It is tempting to fret about the names missing, but Saturday’s game represents a big opportunity for lads to stake claims for jerseys.
Andy Farrell will name his Ireland team to face England, in Saturday’s Autumn Nations Cup tie, on Wednesday afternoon and we already know who WON’T be involved. Well-known surnames like Sexton, Ringrose, Henshaw, Kilcoyne, Furlong and Larmour are all out of the picture, but there is still heavy competition in certain areas.
One such place is the back three, with James Lowe and Andrew Conway doing fine jobs on the wing against Wales and Hugo Keenan yet to flinch at Test level. Two games on the left wing and now a successful fullback start under his belt in the space of three weeks. Ahead of that 32-9 win over the Welsh, Eimear Considine predicted a big debut performance from Lowe, on House of Rugby Ireland.
“James Lowe is just what you’d love to add to any back three,” noted Considine. “His ball-carrying, his left peg – whether it’s a clearance kick or a grubber kick in behind. He has power, pace and I think he will be a huge addition to that Irish team.”
James Lowe and Robbie Henshaw embrace after Ireland’s Autumn Nations Cup win over Wales. (Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)Keith Earls will be hoping to be involved as will Jacob Stockdale, who missed out on the Wales game with a calf strain. Munster’s Shane Daly is fit again too.
Another area expected to be hotly contested is the back row. Peter O’Mahony had a fine game at blindside, with Caelan Doris named man of the match after his outing in the No.8 jersey, but both Will Connors and CJ Stander will be vying for places in the starting XV. Ian Madigan believes Ireland coach Andy Farrell will continue to look at fresh options an combinations here.
“It allows the provincial and national coaches the ability to rotate and keep guys fresh,” said Madigan. “I’m sure we’re going to see a lot of that rotation during the Autumn Nations Cup.”
The big problems for Ireland, heading into this game against England, are at outhalf and tighthead. Centre is covered thanks to having Bundee Aki, Chris Farrell, Stuart McCloskey and even Earls to call on, but who starts in the No.10 jersey?
The big temptation is to roll the dice on Ulster’s Billy Burns. He looked decent against Wales and has been a steady player for Ulster, since his arrival in 2018, but England will mercilessly target whoever starts in the 10 jersey. Jack Carty would be our pick to be starting outhalf, but that is not going to happen as Farrell has cut the Connacht man loose.
Ross Byrne may still have scar tissue from his shaky performance in Ireland’s 57-15 hosing at the hands of England in August 2019, ahead of the World Cup, but this weekend would be a great time to show the country that he is made for this level. Put Jamison Gibson-Park alongside him and pray that the occasion brings the best out of both men.
Then we have the entire front row. They did a complete number on Wales, last weekend, and will be buoyed by that, but few of us have forgotten how Saracens dished up Leinster in the Champions Cup quarter finals. On Saturday, four of the six players that started in the opposing front row that day (Cian Healy, Andrew Porter, Mako Vunipola and Jamie George) should be in from the off at Twickenham.
For a lot of players, Saturday will be a day of reckoning.
Our Ireland team to face England
15. Andrew Conway
14. Keith Earls
13. Chris Farrell
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Ross Byrne
9. Jamison Gibson-Park1. Cian Healy
2. Rob Herring
3. Andrew Porter
4. James Ryan (captain)
5. Quinn Roux
6. Caelan Doris
7. Will Connors
8. CJ Stander
Subs:Â Ronan Kelleher, Ed Byrne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Billy Burns, Jacob Stockdale.
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Season 3 has returned with Ian Madigan & Eimear Considine as hosts. You can catch up on all our episodes from past seasons and interviews with Conrad Smith, Victor Matfield, Simon Zebo, Sean O’Brien, Drew Mitchell, Jean De Villiers, Finn Russell, Mike Brown, Brian O’Driscoll, Tana Umaga and much, much more.
