1
Revealed: The injury count that forced wholesale Ireland changes
Andy Farrell has revealed he is counting the cost of the bruising Ireland victory over world champions South Africa after omitting a host of big names from his squad for Saturday’s clash with Fiji. Skipper Johnny Sexton, vice-captain James Ryan, Irish player of the year Josh van der Flier, first-choice full-back Hugo Keenan and influential forwards Peter O’Mahony and Andrew Porter will not be involved this weekend.
ADVERTISEMENT
Head coach Farrell has made a total of nine personnel changes to his starting Ireland XV for the Fijians’ visit to Dublin, including handing a debut to Munster prop Jeremy Loughman. While his rotated selection initially appeared to be an attempt to rest key performers and give peripheral players a chance ahead of an autumn finale against Australia, the Englishman insisted his hand has been forced by injuries.
Yet he believes the unfortunate situation could serve as important preparation for a shot at World Cup glory next year in France. Asked how many of the absentees had fitness issues, he replied: “Most of them – they are all injured. Johnny, he is banged up with a bad dead leg, Josh has got something going on there, so has James Ryan, Hugo is banged up, Andrew is banged up.
“It is what it is and this type of thing is going to happen constantly, certainly within a World Cup period, certainly when you get down to games three, four, hopefully five, six. It’s good for us. Some of them are impact injuries but some of them are serious enough. We will see how they improve.
“Most of them have done nothing this week. They are in the rehab and physio rooms so we will see how they pull up next week.”
Ahead of the Ireland team announcement, scrum-half Conor Murray was the only player confirmed to be out due to an injury sustained against the Springboks, having left the field on the occasion of his 100th cap because of a groin issue. Sexton received on-field treatment for his leg problem, with his absence becoming apparent on Wednesday afternoon when Tadhg Furlong was named as Ireland captain for the first time.
Prop Furlong (jarred ankle) has himself recovered from injury to retain his place, as has centre Stuart McCloskey (arm). Ireland’s altered line-up includes another opportunity for Joey Carbery to fill Sexton’s shoes at fly-half, while Jimmy O’Brien starts at full-back following an impressive debut cameo deputising in midfield for the stricken McCloskey.
ADVERTISEMENT
Farrell played down concerns about a lack of competition for Keenan in the number 15 Ireland jersey, referencing Michael Lowry, Jacob Stockdale and Mack Hansen as other potential options as he encouraged O’Brien to stake a claim. “There are plenty of options for us but Hugo, with his consistently high performances, has deserved to own the shirt,” said Farrell.
“It’s in somebody else’s hands this week to show that they are another option. He has been playing well, Jimmy. He has been playing well for quite some time and his versatility is massive. It’s good for us to find another option going forward or not. He deserves a chance. His skill set is certainly suited to that.”
In addition to Test newcomer Loughman being named in the front row, Munster fly-half Jack Crowley and Connacht forward Cian Prendergast could make debuts from the bench.
Comments on RugbyPass
Shame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
2 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
2 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
2 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
2 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to comments