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IRELAND MID-TERM REPORT: Captain Sexton, Stander and Ryan lead the way but room for improvement at Twickenham
Ireland have enjoyed an excellent start to their Six Nations campaign, beating Scotland and Wales on successive Saturdays in Dublin during the opening weeks of the new Andy Farrell era.
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But how has each member of Farrell’s squad got on? Here, RugbyPass grades all 25 players used so far – 14 forwards and eleven backs – ahead of their down-week camp in Cork in preparation for their Triple Crown trip to England on February 23.
PROPS (4)
Tadhg Furlong: A
Monster effort. Just look at enthusiasm to get up from a scrum penalty advantage to barge over the Welsh line two phases later. Also, some smashing energy in the tackle, especially late on versus the Scots.
MINS 144 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 28/4 CARRIES 16 METRES MADE 52 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/1 PENS CONCEDED 2
Cian Healy: C-
Overstayed his welcome versus Scotland due to injuries elsewhere and was then the tamest member of the pack versus Wales. Not the full-on Healy we know. Too many penalties conceded.
MINS 117 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 16/2 CARRIES 7 METRES MADE 12 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/1 PENS CONCEDED 3
(Continue reading below…)
The RugbyPod reflects on round two of the Guinness Six Nations
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Dave Kilcoyne: C
Concussion caused Ireland headache against Scotland but his vitality was important seven days later. Offers different threat than Healy in the loose and has the potential to cause debate regarding the No1 jersey.
MINS 31 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 10/2 CARRIES 2 METRES MADE 14 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/0 PENS CONCEDED 0
Andrew Porter: C-
Struggled when introduced off the round one bench but was more up to speed a week later.
MINS 28 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 4/1 CARRIES 5 METRES MADE 21 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/0 PENS CONCEDED 0
HOOKERS (2)
Rob Herring: B
Fantastic he is making his name at Test level two months shy of his 30th birthday. Has repaid leap of faith by Farrell as Schmidt had Niall Scannell lined up as Rory Best’s more likely successor.
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MINS 138 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 21/2 CARRIES 13 METRES MADE 60 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/1 PENS CONCEDED 1
Ronan Kelleher: C-
One to watch in the long run. Just two fleeting cameos so far off the bench for the newcomer, but he hasn’t let himself down adapting to new surroundings.
MINS 22 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 7/0 CARRIES 2 METRES MADE 0 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/0 PENS CONCEDED 0
Faz Snr vs. Faz Jnr???????????????????????
This father versus son battle plot twist is pure box office
– @heagneyl on the Triple Crown saga that's bound to be the talk of the #GuinnessSixNations for the next two weekshttps://t.co/uyfQOEFADs
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 9, 2020
SECOND ROWS (3)
James Ryan: A
Does his engine ever slow down? Incredible workrate on both sides of the ball and an incredible number of metres made carrying. Only work on is those turnovers conceded.
MINS 160 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 36/2 CARRIES 25 METRES MADE 104 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 1/3 PENS CONCEDED 2
Iain Henderson: B
Some errors in the loose take the shine off what he invaluably offers in the tight. Provided the right type of niggle to undermine the Scots and was at it again against the Welsh.
MINS 133 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 24/2 CARRIES 15 METRES MADE 46 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 4/1 PENS CONCEDED 3
Devin Toner: C
Deserved the warm ovation he got when taking the field as a sub against Scotland. Was shabbily treated by Schmidt, but his presence in Farrell’s squad has helped some young Leinster forwards settle into Test level surroundings.
MINS 27 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 8/0 CARRIES 1 METRES MADE 4 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/1 PENS CONCEDED 0
Just one of those days for AWJ having to deal with a pestering POM everywhere he went ? #IREvWAL #SixNations pic.twitter.com/dUbQrT1Njm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 8, 2020
BACK ROWS (5)
Josh van der Flier: B
Injuries and Sean O’Brien limited his previous Six Nations campaigns, but this can be his year. Pushed to the pin of the collar by the Scots but more accurate a week later.
MINS 160 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 28/5 CARRIES 6 METRES MADE 30 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 1/0 PENS CONCEDED 0
CJ Stander: A
Like a jumbo on a runway, he can be slow to take off but that hasn’t happened in this tournament. Exceptional so far, as if his initial selection at No6 and not No8 against Scotland fired him up to prove a point.
MINS 159 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 30/2 CARRIES 26 METRES MADE 101 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 5/0 PENS CONCEDED 3
Peter O’Mahony: A
A bear with the sore head after being dropped to the bench by Farrell to accommodate Doris, but got his break and hasn’t looked back in making his presence very much felt. Has even added some uncharacteristic carries to his game.
MINS 147 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 24/2 CARRIES 6 METRES 18 MADE TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 1/1 PENS CONCEDED 1
Caelan Doris: No Grade
A shame he was concussed just minutes into debut versus Scotland. With consensus suggesting Ireland’s back row needed a change in dynamic, he was primed to provide it and had won an excellent turnover.
MINS 4 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 4/0 CARRIES 0 METRES MADE 0 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 1/0 PENS CONCEDED 0
Max Deegan: C-
Another of the latest batch of taxis off the Leinster rank, his debut was brief last Saturday versus the Welsh. Needs more time to become better accustomed to the demands of Test level.
MINS 9 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 1/1 CARRIES 0 METRES MADE 0 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/0 PENS CONCEDED 1
The feisty Irish veteran has taken to the captaincy rather inspiringly https://t.co/1LhB7I93A7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 8, 2020
SCRUM-HALVES (2)
Conor Murray: B
What’s that old saying – form is temporary and class is permanent. He personified this over successive Saturdays, highly raising his round two game and justifying Farrell’s faith in him.
MINS 133 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 6/4 CARRIES 11 METRES MADE 34 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/2 PENS CONCEDED 2
John Cooney: C-
Omitting Murray and starting Cooney was a step too far for Farrell’s new broom, which essentially has been starting the same Schmidt players and trying to use them differently. Must start versus Italy, though.
MINS 27 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 11/0 CARRIES 1 METRES MADE 0 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/0 PENS CONCEDED 0
OUT-HALVES (2)
Johnny Sexton: A
Captaincy has put rejuvenated life in old legs. Despite the doubts over his temperament, he has led the side excellently and mixed up his game far better than in a miserable 2019.
MINS 143 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 19/3 CARRIES 16 METRES MADE 85 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/2 PENS CONCEDED 0
Ross Byrne: C-
Makes it look easy when stepping in for Sexton at club level but catching the eye at this level is a tougher process and will take time. Next stop Twickenham, where he disasterously lost out on RWC selection last August.
MINS 17 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 4/0 CARRIES 2 METRES MADE 14 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/0 PENS CONCEDED 0
PLAYER RATINGS@heagneyl rates the Irish players #IREvWAL #GuinnessSixNations https://t.co/iUtWamtrus
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 8, 2020
CENTRES (4)
Garry Ringrose: B-
What is it about the Ireland No13 shirt? Ever since Jared Payne started getting injured, it has been a revolving door due to bumps and bangs. Ringrose had some good moments, though, before finger injury versus Scots.
MINS 40 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 3/1 CARRIES 7 METRES MADE 74 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/1 PENS CONCEDED 0
Bundee Aki: B
Remains prone to missing tackles but his attitude has been excellent in helping Ireland go two from two. Massive ground gained in the carry.
MINS 160 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 21/4 CARRIES 25 METRES MADE 178 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 1/1 PENS CONCEDED 0
Robbie Henshaw: B
Always felt he had more to offer in the less confined No13 role and he precisely illustrated this with a powerful first half against Wales before HIA ruined his day.
MINS 84 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 5/1 CARRIES 12 METRES MADE 94 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/0 PENS CONCEDED 0
Keith Earls: C
Can’t be easy for him seeing Andrew Conway snaffle his No14 jersey, but he showed excellent versatility and pluck slotting in at outside centre as Henshaw’s replacement last Saturday.
MINS 36 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 3/1 CARRIES 1 METRES MADE 3 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/0 PENS CONCEDED 0
It's been all sweetness and light heading into this round two encounter in Dublin https://t.co/AKTg7YkbWO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 8, 2020
WINGERS (2)
Andrew Conway: B
It’s taken quite a while for him to reach this status but he is now in his prime and a must-have in the starting XV. An all-action player whose only work on is better shutting the defensive door.
MINS 160 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 8/3 CARRIES 14 METRES MADE 120 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/1 PENS CONCEDED 0
Jacob Stockdale: B-
Having made try-scoring his calling card – 14 tries in 17 appearances – he’s now just two tries in his last nine appearances. Still some defensive deficiencies but is finding new lease of life under Farrell.
MINS 160 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 5/3 CARRIES 12 METRES MADE 175 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 0/1 PENS CONCEDED 0
FULL-BACK (1)
Jordan Larmour: A
Can take the Ireland attack onto great things with his dancing feet now that he has the shirt and doesn’t have veteran Rob Kearney over his shoulder. The crackle in the Dublin crowd when he got on the ball was sizzling.
MINS 160 TACKLES MADE/MISSED 2/0 CARRIES 30 METRES MADE 257 TURNOVERS WON/CONCEDED 1/2 PENS CONCEDED 1
WATCH: Andy Farrell and Johnny Sexton reflect on Ireland’s round two win over Wales
Comments on RugbyPass
What was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
27 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh 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?
27 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?
4 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!
4 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.
13 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.
27 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 comments