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Andy Farrell explains why Ireland have gone for 'surprise pick' James Lowe
Andy Farrell has backed James Lowe to light up the Six Nations after the Leinster winger was a ‘surprise’ pick in the Ireland side that will face Wales in the opening round of the Guinness Six Nations in Cardiff on Sunday.
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New Zealander Lowe, who qualified for Ireland in November under the three-year residency rule, hasn’t played a match of any kind since picking up a groin injury in Autumn Nations Cup defeat to England at Twickenham eleven weeks ago.
With Hugo Keenan switching to full-back to take over from the absent Jacob Stockdale, it had been felt that Jordan Larmour was at the top of the queue to get a look-in on the wing as he had played some recent matches for Leinster. Andrew Conway was also in the mix for selection.
However, Ireland boss Farrell has instead opted to go with Lowe even though he will have been without a game for 78 days when he takes the field at the Principality Stadium. Foremost in the Farrell’s thinking would have been how Lowe fared in his Test debut versus Wales in November, the winger scoring a try and making 82 metres from his eleven carries.
Asked was the inclusion of Lowe a surprise given his inactivity in recent months, Farrell said: “Not really, not in our eyes. He’s a great player that is right for this game. When you’re selected a team you look first and foremost what the right balance is for the team and you can agree it is a strong side, a strong 23, one that is raring to go to start a new competition.
BREAKING: Four changes for Ireland. https://t.co/JFXRMbx2VY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 5, 2021
“He [Lowe] has been in great form (in training). He has been seamless in getting back into action, like most of the other lads. In his position, Jordan hasn’t played many games, hasn’t had much game time. Andrew Conway is in the same boat. They have all come in fit and raring to go and are up to speed to where we want them to be.
“We asked the boys to make sure at the end of the autumn that come the Six Nations they were fit and healthy and raring to go to perform at the level of what is needed to be at their best for the Six Nations. We like what we have seen from all of the squad really over the last ten days.”
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With Caelan Doris unavailable due to concussion, Josh van der Flier comes back into the side to reprise the back row combination of him at openside with Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander. This was the 2019 World Cup back row favoured by Joe Schmidt but it had been shelved since Ireland ran into a brick wall when beaten by England last February.
“Josh was on the bench for us a couple of times in the autumn,” said Farrell. “He made some significant impacts in the game. He has a fantastic running game, really punches onto the ball well, but his all-round game is pretty strong so we feel that this combination is the one to go with this weekend.”
Asked if Doris might come back into the selection reckoning for the round two game at home to France, Farrell said: “We’ll wait and see. he only thing that matters at his moment of time is Caelan gets the advice that he needs and we will see how the coming weeks go.”
Aside from Lowe for Stockdale and van der Flier for Doris, Ireland’s other changes to the team that faced Scotland in their last outing were Garry Ringrose for Bundee Aki and Tadhg Beirne for Iain Henderson.
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The exclusion of Aki is huge as he had been a near-ever present at No12 since qualifying under residency in 2017. His suspension for the 2019 World Cup quarter-final was the last time the Leinster partnership of Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw started at Test level.
“They’re both class players,” added Farrell, focusing on Ringrose and Henshaw. “It’s a partnership you would hope would grab hold of a competition like this. They are a partnership that plays together and trains together most days of the week.”
1?? thing has really stood out for the ex-Ireland skipper under Faz #GuinnessSixNationshttps://t.co/wyGaV3CwYi
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 2, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments