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Farrell explains why he has axed Lowe and also rejigged the Ireland back row
Andy Farrell has explained the thinking behind his much changed Ireland team to host England this Saturday in the Dublin finale of the Guinness Six Nations. The head coach has rung six alterations, three due to injury and the others because of form and fatigue.
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Garry Ringrose (ankle) and James Ryan (concussion) were both ruled out due to knocks sustained in last Sunday’s win over Scotland while Will Connors picked up a training ground knee injury. James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park and Cian Healy have also given way in the XV.
The reshuffle sees Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale and Conor Murray restored to the starting backs while Dave Kilcoyne, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan are the beneficiaries in a pack where the soon-to-retire CJ Stander will shift to blindside with Tadhg Beirne switching to second row.
Explaining the Ireland back row rejig featuring two called-up players and a positional switch for regular No8 Stander, Farrell outlined how Connors, last weekend’s openside, pulled up lame at training and will be replaced by van der Flier who has been in and out of the team in recent times.
“Will is unbelievably unfortunate. He has had a great tournament and really progressed. He is young as far as international rugby is concerned and is certainly on an upward curve. It was something of nothing, it was at the end of training doing some extras.
Did your No.8 ever do this for you?
If not, why not? Demand answers.
Credit: @SixNationsRugby pic.twitter.com/9BBCxitNN3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 18, 2021
“He came down in an awkward position on his knee and was ruled out straight away by our medics. He will have some more checks in the coming days and he’s back home at Leinster. Josh has been unlucky not to start a few more games than what he has because he is great form himself.
“When you tell a player he is not playing, sometimes you get a reaction in training and you actually go, ‘Geez, I wish I had have picked him’. Josh has been brimming like that for a good few weeks now so we are made up there is like for like coming in.
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“CJ will 100 per cent just be himself. He is never any different. He is the most consistent player constantly week in week out. Jack adds something different, a bit of dynamism at the back of the scrum. He’s in great form as well coming back from injury, so he will be brimming to make a statement to say he is back on the international scene.”
Staying with the Ireland pack, where Kilcoyne got the nod ahead of the benched Healy, Farrell continued: “Dave has been great. He has not had that much game time but he has been great in training, his set-piece has been going really well and we all know that a six-day turnaround is a big thing in international rugby. Less time to prepare, less time to recover, so there was always a little bit of thinking like that in the back of my mind.”
Out the back, there are first appearances for Stockdale and Aki since they started the Autumn Nations Cup playoff win over Scotland in December while fit-again Murray, an unused sub last weekend, makes his first start since the Six Nations loss to Wales.
“We all know how dangerous Jacob is. He makes things happen. He has been out injured, he has lost a bit of weight, he looks sharp, he looks really sharp, he has had a good few games behind him (with Ulster) and he is ready to go. It gives us that left foot option as well, as did James.
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“With James there is a few things we have talked about over the series, over the Six Nations. He is very young as far as international experience is concerned. He has learned a lot in his time in this Six Nations and we are looking forward to him progressing in the big games back at Leinster in the coming weeks.
“Conor has another week behind him training-wise, so he is fresh and fit and raring to go. He is a big-game player,” added Farrell, who also paid tribute to Stander who revealed his shock retirement announcement at the end of this season to the squad earlier this week.
“He made his decision six or seven weeks ago and he is in a great mood. I’m absolutely made up for him to be honest. He is very content with his decision, is very happy, and when you put all that into context, we’re happy for him as well. He is in great spirits.
“CJ deserves the right to speak to the players. He wanted to tell them first-hand rather than second-half. He didn’t want them to leave an Ireland camp with the news he already knows and not have the chance to address the group.”
It has been four years and four months since Elliot Daly last wore the England No13 shirt#SixNations #IREvENGhttps://t.co/Pxo2x8zI0c
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 18, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments