1
The dramatic 7.45 am SOS call Ireland put into Belfast on Sunday morning
So much for the best-laid plans of Ireland boss Andy Farrell. There he was last Friday afternoon, naming his latest XV and thinking all was ready for taking on Argentina 48 hours later in their final match of their three-game Autumn Nations Series. The trouble was that just 13 of the 15 Ireland players he originally chose to start made it onto the field for the kick-off and one of the changes even necessitated an emergency call getting put into Nick Timoney 160kms away in Belfast just six and a half hours before the 2:15pm start.
ADVERTISEMENT
It was Saturday when it first emerged that Jack Conan had picked up a niggle but the optimism was that he would pitch up healthy and fill the No8 jersey he had been allocated. Not so.
A Sunday morning check confirmed he was out and with replacement Peter O’Mahony promoted into the starting team, the sudden bench vacancy resulted in Ireland giving Timoney a call asking him could he make the two-hour trip south to take up a place on the replacements bench?
The 26-year-old, who made his debut in the July win over the USA, had been released back to Ulster on Friday after not making the Test match 23, but he jumped at the sudden chance to make a second-ever appearance for Ireland and his rushed journey to Dublin wasn’t in vain, Timoney stepping off the bench on the hour-mark to help his team transform a then 34-7 lead into a 53-7 margin of victory.
It wasn’t the only selection drama, either. Iain Henderson had arrived at the Aviva Stadium all set to start in the engine room alongside James Ryan but he pulled up lame in the warm-up. The ensuing late reshuffle saw Tadhg Beirne switch from the bench into a starting role and Ryan Baird coming in for Beirne as a replacement.
Ireland back-rower Peter O’Mahony has explained his furious verbal outburst towards Tomas Lavanini, the red-carded Argentina lock#IREvARG #AutumnNationsSeries #Ireland #Argentinahttps://t.co/yMUOxU7Anz
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 21, 2021
“The scoreline is very flattering for us,” reckoned Farrell, for whom the win was an eighth success in a row for Ireland, quite an improvement from the mid-February record showing just six wins from his first eleven outings in charge since succeeding Joe Schmidt post the 2019 World Cup. “I don’t know whether the first half was so dominant.
“The most pleasing thing why it ended that way (in a 46-point win) was that a whole lot of lads got some well-deserved game time. There was a bit of controversy that we had to deal with throughout the morning and right up until kick-off and we dealt with it well.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Jack Conan felt something in his quad Saturday and we gave him until this morning. We thought he would be okay but he wasn’t. We didn’t even get to the warm-up with him. At 7.45am Nick Timoney got a call to come back down from Belfast. It just shows the strength of the group that he is covering six, seven and eight and can do it seamlessly.
“For all the mix-up Sunday morning, Tadhg Beirne was covering second row and then all of a sudden he is covering six, seven and eight and then he is back into second row again and he plays a match like that. Pete comes off the bench to play the full game and ends up captaining the side and has a stormer. The most pleasing part about the month we have been together is the cohesion as a group.”
Comments on RugbyPass
You doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
5 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
5 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
5 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
5 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
5 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame 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.
3 Go to comments