1
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has challenged fly-half Billy Burns to “run the show” against Georgia as he searches for a long-term successor to Johnny Sexton.
ADVERTISEMENT
Burns, who came off the bench in the win over Wales and subsequent defeat to England, has been handed a full international debut as part of nine changes for Sunday’ Autumn Nations clash.
The 26-year-old former England Under-20 international made an impressive cameo at Twickenham, having replaced the ineffectual Ross Byrne.
With veteran captain Sexton in the twilight of his career and currently injured, the number 10 jersey appears up for grabs moving forward and Farrell is eager for Ulster’s Burns to stake a claim for the role.
“We’re excited to see Billy. Obviously, he gets to run the show for the side for the first time,” said Farrell.
“He’s been in with us for a couple of weeks now and been involved off the bench, so it’s his opportunity to grab a hold of the team and the game, and run the show, so we’re excited about that.
“That builds a little bit of experience for us in that position as well.”
Burns will line-up behind recalled scrum-half Conor Murray in an experimental team in Dublin.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ireland’s selection also includes rare starts for centre Stuart McCloskey and prop Finlay Bealham, while uncapped Shane Daly is expected to make his debut from the bench.
Ulster man McCloskey will win only his fourth cap having not represented his country since victory over the United States in November 2018, while Australia-born Bealham has been limited to a handful of substitute appearances since starting the same game.
Farrell is desperate to expand his selection options to prevent a future injury “crisis” and admits setbacks – such as the Six Nations loss to France and last weekend’s defeat to Eddie Jones’ World Cup winners – are part of the process.
The type of secondrow every prop dreams of…https://t.co/qqm7lDjWmZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 26, 2020
“Growing pains is a good way of putting it, or priceless experience, you could put it that way as well,” said Farrell.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’ve made it pretty clear from the start that this is an opportunity for us to try and grow our pool. We’re obviously a small playing pool and with a small playing pool you’re always one or two injuries from a crisis.
“This is an opportunity for us to gain some experience in a few different areas and make sure we build for the future.
“You’re hoping, when you give opportunities, for a performance but not always does a performance and an opportunity marry up.
Andy Farrell has reacted to defeat to England by making 9️⃣ Ireland changes #AutumnNationsCup #IREvGEO 🇮🇪https://t.co/R6iC6Pz2tz
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 26, 2020
“The priceless experience for us is going away to two big playing nations like France and England and feeling the pressure and learning from that experience and making sure we bottle that for the future.”
Farrell suggested Sexton (hamstring) and Robbie Henshaw (groin) may be fit to feature in next week’s tournament finale, while wingers James Lowe and Andrew Conway have been left out due to “niggles”.
The continued absence of Sexton means James Ryan will lead the side for the second successive match.
Iain Henderson joins stand-in skipper Ryan in the second row to start for his country for the first time since early February following suspension and a medical problem.
Jacob Stockdale, a try-scoring replacement against England, returns to the starting XV at full-back following a calf issue, with Hugo Keenan moving out to the right wing, and Keith Earls switching to the left flank.
Flankers Tadhg Beirne and Will Connors also start, meaning CJ Stander reverts to number eight in place of the rested Caelan Doris.
Hooker Rob Herring comes back in to the front row, in between loosehead Bealham and Andrew Porter, who keeps his tighthead spot, while McCloskey joins Chris Farrell in midfield.
Daly and fly-half Byrne are joined on the bench by Dave Heffernan, Cian Healy, John Ryan, Quinn Roux, Peter O’Mahony and Kieran Marmion.
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
75 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI 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.
9 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.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 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?
9 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.
2 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 comments