Before criticising Farrell, look to the evolving spine of Ireland
Whenever the tenure of a new head coach begins, such as it does with Andy Farrell and Ireland this week, the identification of a new spine to build the team around is very rarely far from the discussion.
Generally perceived as the hooker, No 8, scrum-half, fly-half and full-back, the ‘spine’ could also be broadened to include a lineout-calling second row and the captain of the side, should their position fall outside of those central positions.
For former assistant and now head coach Farrell, this weekend’s Guinness Six Nations fixture against Scotland, his first in sole charge of the Ireland team, gives an intriguing glimpse into his plans at those key positions.
Up front, long-time hooker and captain Rory Best has hung up his boots and in comes his former Ulster teammate Rob Herring. The Cape Town native is set to win his ninth cap for Ireland on Saturday and is the man immediately tasked with filling Best’s boots. On the bench, however, is Leinster talent Rónan Kelleher.
Kelleher, 22, is seven years Herring’s junior and it would not be surprising if he is the man that Farrell ultimately has his eye on as replacement for Best in the long-term. The St Michael’s College product has been in sublime form so far in the 2019/20 season and his consistency at the set-piece and underrated ability in the loose was key to Leinster’s fast start to the campaign, despite them missing so many players to their post-Rugby World Cup rest period.
Continue reading below…
Watch: The Six Nations launch
Herring will have an opportunity to show that this is his time, that his patience behind Best was not misplaced, whilst Kelleher, should he make his debut from the bench, also has a chance to show that this stage is not too big for him and the right move is to commit to him as starting hooker as soon as possible.
Moving back into the row and you have talismanic lock James Ryan. This is the time for Ryan, with Best having retired and Peter O’Mahony having to make do with a place on the bench, to show that he is the emotional leader of this forward pack, even if he is not the named captain.
Ryan has proven he is one of the best players in the world at his position and the next challenge will be maintaining that level of performance on the pitch whilst also taking on a more senior role within the squad and beginning to establish his leadership and potential captaincy credentials. It’s exactly the same evolution that England’s Maro Itoje went through a couple of years ago.
At No 8, it’s a debut cap for Leinster’s Caelan Doris, with the bruising back rower having been on a steep and fast trajectory to the senior side after impressing with the Ireland U20s. Put aside injuries to Jack Conan and Max Deegan for a moment, Doris is the real deal and more than deserving of his place at the base of the Irish scrum.
Doris is the confident ball-handling power carrier that Ireland have arguably missed since Jamie Heaslip was at the peak of his powers and whilst the likes of O’Mahony, CJ Stander and Josh van der Flier all offer appetising skill sets of their own, Doris’ impact on Ireland’s attacking game plan is shaping up to be a significant one. He not only breaks the gain-line, he plays with composure beyond it.
Farrell has opted for consistency and experience in the key decision-making positions of scrum-half and fly-half, where Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton retain their places, with the latter taking on the captaincy role. This seems smart.
Excellent initiative from the Warriors https://t.co/zsQG7vF87E
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 28, 2020
There may be a fair level of discontent that John Cooney has to make do with a spot on the bench despite his scintillating form this campaign, but the fly-half door is not currently being knocked down behind Sexton. His Leinster understudy Ross Byrne is on the bench, whilst uncapped Billy Burns remains in reserve.
Both have played well so far this season, although you would struggle to make a case that they deserve to start over the veteran Sexton, unless as part of a transition plan, with Farrell eyeing Sexton’s departure from the international arena in the coming years. That said, Harry Byrne was recently included in the group as a development player, so it’s clear that Farrell does at least have one eye on the future.
Finally, we come to full-back, where versatile back three player Jordan Larmour is set to win his 22nd cap, potentially the first of a long spell that sees him lock down the 15 jersey. The electric back has bounced between full-back and the wing in his appearances to date, although it is he, not Will Addison, who has been given the first audition to replace the reliability and consistency of Rob Kearney as Ireland’s last line of defence.
And that’s what he has to prove. He has to show to Farrell that he can be that trusted and safe pair of hands at the back. No one who has watched even 30 seconds of Larmour’s play over the last couple of seasons doubts his attacking ability, which is there in spades. If he can deal with the contested aerial balls, make the one-on-one tackles in open field and kick intelligently, he has all the makings of one of the most influential players in world rugby.
The overall selection has had its critics, but the balance is nice. Too many changes and the team will struggle, creating an environment for younger players’ introduction to international rugby that is far from desirable. Don’t change enough and you waste valuable time with players who won’t be in the picture come the next Rugby World Cup.
Fast-rising stars Ryan and Larmour get the opportunity to further stamp their authority on the team, whilst Doris and Kelleher get their chances to impress. Herring’s presence shows that Farrell is not willing to throw caution to the wind and dump Kelleher in the deep end, and Murray and Sexton are going to help ensure that Ireland remain competitive against challenging opposition, despite the national side’s struggles at the Rugby World Cup.
Another day of upheaval at the London club https://t.co/yfErVjUR8u
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 28, 2020
Experienced options have been selected outside of the spine, suggesting that there is no chance of Farrell throwing the baby out with the bathwater following that less than impressive campaign, something which only further adds to the interest in how Doris and Kelleher cope at this level, in a side that certainly does not lack for ability.
Farrell is going to learn more about that pair, as well as Ryan as a leader and Larmour as an out-and-out full-back option, in this team than he ever would in a side that boasts five or six new faces and a host more debutants on the bench. England bounced back from a challenging 2018 to make the Rugby World Cup final and there’s no reason why Ireland can’t make a similar resurgence in 2020.
This isn’t a revolution, it’s an evolution.
Watch: Finn Russell’s international career is in his own hands
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments