Tom Stewart gets big chance to impress as worries grow over Sheehan and Kelleher

Patrick McCarry

“He is flying around the place.”

Tom Stewart is getting his big chance, Diarmuid Barron is up to speed on team calls, Rob Herring is backing up his Ulster teammate and both the Leinster hookers are in good nick ahead of the World Cup squad announcement, according to the Ireland head coach anyway.

Andy Farrell either has a great poker-face or he is the least concerned person about the World Cup fitness of Rónan Kelleher and Dan Sheehan. Everyone else is worried, though, and with reason.

Farrell spoke with the media after naming his Ireland team to face Samoa, in Bayonne this Saturday. Tom Stewart starts at hooker with Rob Herring backing him up, but several of the questions were on the Leinster hookers that much of Ireland’s World Cup hopes rest upon.

“He’s good, yeah,” said Farrell of Sheehan, who lasted 36 minutes against England. He’s got a sprain in his foot, in a ligament in his foot… He has a sprain in his foot, better than expected; should be fit for the World Cup.”

Asked if he would be fit to face Romania, on September 9, Farrell replied, “We’ll see how he progresses over the coming weeks but, as I said, with all injuries you see how they develop over the period of time, don’t you. But we expect him to be fit for the World Cup.”

“As far as Ronan is concerned,” Farrell continued, “he is doing great. He is flying around the place at this moment in time – this week. If it was, at a push, for him – say a World Cup semi-final or final – we’re sure we could have got him over the line this week, but there’s no need to do that. He’s in good spirits.”

Tom Stewart gets another chance to impress

Andy Farrell will name his Ireland squad to for the World Cup on Monday (August 28) and hooker is the area of greatest concern.

Another area of focus, although this is more a matter of having an abundance of options, is centres. Stuart McCloskey is a specialist 12 and may have to show what he cam do (again) against Samoa to press his case for selection.

Asked if Farrell had any specific messages for McCloskey or Tom Stewart, ahead of his first Test start, the Ireland coach said:

“There’s no message, the messages have been over the last 10 weeks of how we prepare to be the best team you possibly can be, how you adjust and adapt to that is the pressure of playing top level rugby so they know that and they’ll push forward with that in mind.”

“I like everything [about Tom Stewart]. Well, I certainly like most things from what I’ve seen. I’ve seen a determined young man that’s willing to understand what it takes first and foremost to thrive in an international environment. And it’s tough for a young player especially in that type of position.

“He’s certainly done that. He’s a determined kid who quietly goes about his job, but he certainly puts a lot of confidence into the coaching staff and players with the way he prepares etc. I’m hoping that transfers, that’s the main thing, just being himself at the weekend because he’s a good player.”