Peter O’Mahony injury offers Ireland perfect opportunity to rejig back row

Who wants it?

Patrick McCarry

Peter O’Mahony injury offers Ireland perfect opportunity to rejig back row

The silver lining of the Cork native’s injury could be Sean O’Brien shifting to blindside.

Confirmation arrived, last night, of the news we suspected ever since Peter O’Mahony collapsed to the turf at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

The Munster captain looked in a bad way then and, despite the optimistic words spoken in the days and weeks after, medics confirmed he will be out until next March, at least.

O’Mahony’s knee ligament injury will, in all likelihood, rule him out of the Six Nations. That is a real shame as he was one of Ireland’s best players at the World Cup.

The leading candidates to step into the international breach would be Rhys Ruddock, Jordi Murphy and, potentially, Iain Henderson. However, with Paul O’Connell now retired, the Ulster forward is needed in Ireland’s second row.

The most exciting option for Irish fans is surely Sean O’Brien shifting to blindside.

O’Brien won European Player of the Year in 2011 having predominantly starred for Leinster in the No.6 jersey. He shifted to openside, in the Test set-up, to accommodate Stephen Ferris and fill in for David Wallace.

Long-term injuries aside, he has been there ever since.

If Ireland are to veer from their tried, tested and somewhat staid tactics of late, it would be great to see O’Brien start at blindside. Taking him away from openside duties would free him up for more carries and work in the loose.

Bringing Chris Henry in at openside would seem the soundest option. ‘Chad’ was the only player in the World Cup to effect at least five turnovers without once conceding possession. He is combative, tireless and can pull out an nice flick pass.

At No.8, it may be the perfect opportunity to have a proper look at another option.

Jamie Heaslip is the man in possession and, with O’Mahony on the sidelines, a near certainty for the Irish captaincy. Heaslip is 31, though, and has himself admitted that he may not make it to World Cup 2019 in Japan.

A viable candidate has just been awarded the Munster captaincy and has been his team’s best player for the past two years. CJ Stander did not get a huge look-in under Rob Penney but Anthony Foley has placed his faith in the 25-year-old and been rewarded.

Stander is now eligible to play for Ireland, under the current, three-year residency rules, and should come into Joe Schmidt’s Six Nations squad. He can play across the back row so is another option at blindside.

The national team, we feel, would not benefit from Heaslip playing five more iron-man matches in the Six Nations.

Elsewhere, Jack McGrath could, and should, argue that he merits a starting spot at loosehead. Rory Best is our best hooker so he should remain in situ. Marty Moore would have pushed Mike Ross for a starting role in the World Cup. He should overtake the old stager next year.

In the second row, sticking with the promising Henderson-Toner partnership should bear fruit.