Here's new Ireland boss Andy Farrell's form XV after two rounds of Champions Cup
Andy Farrell is only just into his new role as Ireland boss but it’s safe to say the former assistant already has his hands full ten weeks out from his maiden match, the February 1 Six Nations meeting in Dublin against Scotland.
The Englishman, who has never had to run the whole shooting match anywhere before in his coaching career, has massive footsteps to follow.
Joe Schmidt may have twice made a pig’s ear of grand Irish ambition to reach a first-ever World Cup semi-final, but he still departed as Ireland’s most successful coach ever.
His 73 per cent win ratio (55 wins in 76 outings) eclipsed the fortunes of his three immediate predecessors, the 63.1 per cent Eddie O’Sullivan (48 wins in 76), the 53.7 per cent Declan Kidney (27 wins in 53) and the 48.6 per cent Warren Gatland (18 wins in 38).
Now all eyes are on where Farrell, ambitiously contracted through to the 2023 World Cup, might ultimately wind up in this pecking order nearly 22 years after the last Englishman in charge of Ireland jumped ship a mere year into a staggering six-year deal.
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Brian Ashton royally upset the natives with his attitude in not bothering to scout Irish-based players, preferring instead to watch the multitude earning their living in the Premiership at that time.
Times have very much changed since and with IRFU preference since the 2015 repatriation of Johnny Sexton being to only select Irish-based players, Farrell has been busy these past two weekends running the rule over the Irish provinces in Champions Cup action.
It’s a scouting scene that has been part of his remit since first coming under Schmidt’s wing in 2016. But now that he is doing it Ireland boss, players will hope he is taking a clean slate approach towards formulating his 2020 Six Nations squad.
RugbyPass sifts through the Ireland wreckage following a torrid night in Tokyo, an elimination that was promised would not be repeated after mistakes were identified in 2015https://t.co/VzQ9eGwBIl
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 19, 2019
A total of 72 Irish-eligible players – 40 forwards and 32 backs – started for the provinces across the opening two Champions Cup rounds. Here, RugbyPass runs the rule over them and suggests who on current form is potentially leading the race to fill the Test shirts for Farrell’s first outing.
FULL-BACK – Six starters
Will Addison (Ulster, 2 starts), Jordan Larmour (Leinster, 1 FB, 1RW), Mike Haley (Munster, 2), Darragh Leader (Connacht, 1), Matt Healy (Connacht, 1), Rob Kearney (Leinster, 1)
Does Farrell stick with Schmidt favourite Rob Kearney – 34 next March – or invest in younger, less experienced options with a view to the future. Kearney was polished in Leinster’s defensive win at Lyon, showcasing all his streetwise attributes in keeping the door shut, but if front-foot options are the preference, then Larmour, Addison and Haley should all be ahead of the Ireland veteran. Larmour retained an eye for manufacturing clean breaks, but the latter pair’s numbers were especially excessive. Addison made 180 metres from 37 carries and Haley clocked 193 metres from 29 carries across their two matches. Advantage – Haley
RIGHT WING – Four starters
Rob Lyttle (Ulster, 1), Dave Kearney (Leinster, 1), Andrew Conway (Munster, 2), Louis Ludik (Ulster, 1)
Connacht’s Australian John Porch is Irish ineligible while Ulster duo Lyttle and Ludik are names that haven’t registered with Ireland previously due to frequent injury and being too old respectively. Lyttle did do well at Bath in his sole outing, posting a reminder of his fleet-footedness, but in terms of consistency over two weekends, Conway stood out. At 28, he is in prime and his poacher’s instinct resulted in tries on successive Saturdays. Larmour’s yellow card in Lyon blotted his wing report card and while it was good to see the forgotten Dave Kearney show some form of old last weekend versus Benetton, he needs to start against the bigger opposition. Advantage – Conway
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Ireland’s backs got a read on everything Scotland throwing at them. ?#IREvSCO #irelandrugby #irishrugby #scotlandrugby #scottishrugby #rwc #rugbyworldcup #rugbymemes
OUTSIDE CENTRE – Five starters
Luke Marshall (Ulster, 2), Garry Ringrose (Leinster, 2), Chris Farrell (Munster, 2), Bundee Aki (Connacht, 1), Tom Farrell (Connacht, 1)
Let go Frankenstein here: If you could marry the reliable tackling of Marshall – a dozen at Bath – with the elusiveness of round one hat-trick scorer Ringrose on the ball, you would have one heck of a No13 as one player’s weakness is the other’s strength. Marshall left a try behind against Clermont while Ringrose occasionally left the defensive door open, two missed tackles in each outing. His unnecessary blocking also cost Johnny Sexton the try that would have denied Lyon their losing bonus. Chris Farrell was consistent in his two starts, while Tom Farrell was the more attacking of Connacht’s two starters, scoring at Toulouse while carrying 36 metres and offloading twice in contrast to the well-marshalled Aki who managed just eleven metres and one offload versus Montpellier. No Advantage
INSIDE CENTRE – Five starters
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster, 2), Rory O’Loughlin (Leinster, 1), Rory Scannell (Munster, 2), Tom Daly (Connacht, 2), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster, 1)
It was curious how the first weekend’s two best twelves, McCloskey and Scannell, encountered high profile errors in weekend two. McCloskey cheaply knocked-on when Ulster were queuing up for a second-half score while Scannell was left on his backside by try-scoring Finn Russell’s nut-meg in Limerick. Where McCloskey skillfully impressed more than other twelves, though, was in winning two turnovers and serving up three offloads. Missed tackles took the sheen off O’Loughlin’s round one effort, Henshaw provided great defensive stability for Leinster this weekend as well as good go-forward, while Daly’s high numbers on the ball versus Montpellier tapered away significantly in Toulouse. Advantage – McCloskey
LEFT WING – Two starters
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster, 2), Keith Earls (Munster, 2)
This position had the least contenders for Farrell to scout as Leinster’s James Lowe and Connacht’s Kyle Godwin are not Irish eligible. Neither Ulster match really suited wing play, yet Stockdale still grabbed headlines by snuffing out a Bath attack to preserve the win in the last act. Earls, though, was far more involved, breaking clear on four occasions and scoring in both his matches. Three offloads versus Racing also highlighted his handling nous. Advantage – Earls
Ireland player ratings on a World Cup night to forget versus New Zealand in Tokyohttps://t.co/U8IUeEhJwH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 19, 2019
OUT-HALF – Six starters
Billy Burns (Ulster), Johnny Sexton (Leinster), Tyler Bleyendaal (Munster), Jack Carty (Connacht), Conor Fitzgerald (Connacht), JJ Hanrahan (Munster)
Sexton turns 35 next July when Ireland tour Australia, but showed no signs of slowing down the last two Saturdays. Only for Ringrose, he would have added a try in France to the one very happily celebrated in Dublin, and his tackle count – ten – especially stood out versus Lyon. However, as highlighted at the past two World Cups when Ireland were caught short in his absence, Test experience must be poured into alternatives. Uncapped Billy Burns was energetic but had kinks in his game, such as too many missed tackles at Bath. A similar description applies to JJ Hanrahan, another uncapped pivot. He did so many great things versus Racing, crowned by his excellent assist for Conway and landing the game-levelling touchline conversion, only to dramatically miss a drop goal at the death. He – like Burns and Jack Carty versus Montpellier – missed too many tackles. Connacht rookie Fitzgerald surprisingly didn’t look out of his depth. With a 35-metre carry and ten tackles, he impressed at Toulouse as did Bleyendaal in Swansea whose biggest obstacle continues to be week-to-week fitness. Advantage – Sexton
SCRUM-HALF – Four starters
John Cooney (Ulster), Luke McGrath (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Caolin Blade (Connacht)
Farrell’s philosophy just might be reflected in this position in the spring. Murray has long been in the world-class category for his pass and the calibre of box kicks, but Cooney and Blade possess an eagerness to carry and be less predictable. Whereas Murray managed seven metres off nine carries in two appearances, Cooney registered 84 metres off nine carries and Blade 80 metres off eleven carries. More tellingly, the pair scored two tries each. No wonder Blade is ahead of Kieran Marmion in the Connacht pecking order. McGrath, meanwhile, tackled well in Lyon. Advantage – Cooney
LOOSEHEAD – Six starters
Jack McGrath (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Denis Buckley (Connacht), Eric O’Sullivan (Ulster), Peter McCabe (Connacht)
With fellow RWC loosehead Dave Kilcoyne injured, the past two Saturdays showed Healy’s different strengths away from the set-piece. Versus Benetton, it was regular ball-carrying, and against Lyon, his tackling. He signed off on ten. The frustrations of his old club rival McGrath continued, Ulster’s signing lasting just seven minutes at Bath. O’Sullivan likes a tackle but must tidy up his set-piece. Munster’s Loughman had vastly contrasting Saturdays, an all-action try-scorer in Swansea and on the back foot in Limerick. Connacht’s Buckley was immense with 18 tackles versus Montpellier, a presence that McCabe, his replacement in Toulouse, couldn’t replicate. Advantage – Healy
The Irish province got their latest Champions Cup campaign up and running against an easy on the eye Benetton on a day of mixed emotions for one family in D4https://t.co/XA7DO54mIT
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 16, 2019
HOOKER – Five starters
Rob Herring (Ulster, 2), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster, 2), Niall Scannell (Munster, 2), Tom McCartney (Connacht, 1), Dave Heffernan (Connacht, 1)
Rory Best’s retirement should have all the provincial hookers champing at the bit. As next man up in recent times under Schmidt, Scannell should be consistently pulling out top drawer performances but issues at the lineout and an inability to get across the gain line hampered versus Racing a week after he impressed at Ospreys. Similar can be said of Herring, his accuracy against Clermont not matching what he produced at Bath. Uncapped oldie McCartney won’t feature under Farrell, but his tackle count of 16 against Montpellier (he also scored a try) was immense and Connacht missed him at the lineout after going with Heffernan in Toulouse. The bolt from the blue, though, has been Kelleher. A rookie shouldn’t be this instantly consistent at this level but he has impressed, scoring versus Benetton and even contributing an offload in Lyon. Advantage – Kelleher
TIGHTHEAD – Five starters
Marty Moore (Ulster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), John Ryan (Munster), Dominic Robertson-McCoy (Connacht), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster)
You have to imagine when February comes around, Ireland first-choice Furlong should be fully back up to speed and not missing the load of tackles he did in Lyon. Porter and Ryan have been Test back-up in recent times but might Moore, who lost favour with Schmidt when he moved to Wasps and was last capped in March 2015, be poised for a look-in? His efforts with Ulster were consistent, his tackle count of twelve at Bath especially positive, as was his scrummaging. Porter looked unsettled in his start versus Benetton while Ryan didn’t rise above the ordinary with Munster. Advantage – Moore
LH LOCK – Six starters
Iain Henderson (Ulster, 1LH, 1TH), Devin Toner (Leinster, 1), Jean Kleyn (Munster, 2), Cillian Gallagher (Connacht, 1), Alan O’Connor (Ulster, 1), Ultan Dillane (Connacht, 1TH, 1LH)
Second row is a bit complicated by Henderson switching from No4 to No5 between games and Dillane doing the reverse at Connacht, No5 one weekend to No4 the next. Dillane was a raging furnace in Toulouse, ratcheting up 18 tackles with a tenacity that Henderson had mirrored at Bath before being less influential versus Clermont. Toner, whose attitude has been excellent despite his RWC squad axing by Schmidt, was also full of tackles in his round one Leinster start, only to drop to the bench in Lyon to accommodate the Irish ineligible Scott Fardy. Kleyn, who usurped Toner’s squad spot for Japan, was a rugged presence for Munster. Advantage – Dillane
TH LOCK – Four starters
James Ryan (Leinster, 2), Billy Holland (Munster, 1), Quinn Roux (Connacht, 1), Tadhg Beirne (Munster, 1)
If Farrell is looking for one player to build his tenure around, it must be Ryan. A figure of 79 metres off eight carries in France on Saturday was phenomenal for a lock. Then again, everything he seems to do is phenomenal, accounting for eleven tackles in Lyon after 19 the previous Saturday. He is the complete player in this role, but others had their moments. Holland made 16 tackles in Swansea, Dillane 13 in Galway before switching to No4 this weekend to accommodate Roux who enjoyed three turnover wins in Toulouse, one more than Beirne versus Racing. Advantage – Ryan
BLINDSIDE – Six starters
Matt Rea (Ulster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Paul Boyle (Connacht), Sean Reidy (Ulster), Eoghan Masterson (Connacht)
What is going on with O’Mahony at Munster? Getting on the ball was never his thing but tournament statistics claim he has made 50 metres from 19 carries, aside from contributing in the usual dominant areas of his game such as 17 tackles across two matches and three turnovers wins at Ospreys. Seventeen tackles, mind, was what Masterson managed in one outing in Toulouse after taking over from Boyle who excited with 32 metres in the carry in Connacht’s win over Montpellier. Ulster’s blindside duo were like for like, while Ruddock’s workrate for Leinster was exhaustive. Advantage – O’Mahony
OPENSIDE – Four starters
Jordi Murphy (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Tommy O’Donnell (Munster), Jack O’Donoghue (Munster)
After a World Cup where Ireland were crying out for back row ball carriers, another whose numbers ballooned on provincial duty was van der Flier. Tackling remained very much his forte, with 38 across two games, but he also made 67 metres off 11 carries, including the gallop that assisted Max Deegan for his try in Lyon. Ulster’s Murphy also motored, managing 42 metres versus Clermont as well as some valuable turnover wins. Test rugby might beyond O’Donnell at this stage but he remained Munster’s most impactful openside compared to O’Donoghue. Connacht don’t feature here as Colby Fainga’a isn’t Ireland eligible. Advantage – van der Flier
NO8 – Four starters
Caelan Doris (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster), Robin Copeland (Connacht), Max Deegan (Leinster)
Safe to say, Stander likes getting his hands on the ball. There were 47 carries on successive Saturdays but he could do with evading the odd contact. His metre count total was 77, but a 28-metre gain from 24 carries versus Racing highlighted how tough the going was in Limerick. Try-scoring Deegan was excellent in Lyon, his 16 tackles and two turnover wins showing he is no slouch in a position he started in after last week’s unfortunate injury to the upcoming Doris, whom he replaced early at the RDS. Copeland’s biggest issue continued to be consistency, a huge shift versus Montpellier clouded by less prominence at Toulouse. South African Marcell Coetzee meant no Irish presence at No8 in Ulster. Advantage – Stander
WATCH: RugbyPass went behind the scenes with the Tonga national team as they prepared for the 2019 World Cup in Japan
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….
65 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