Farrell plays it safe with Ireland selection
FARRELL PLAYS IT SAFE WITH HIS SELECTIONS DESPITE ONGOING ISSUES AT PROP AND HOOKER
THIS Ireland squad l earned plenty about themselves in Twickenham last weekend, according to Andy Farrell in the wake of that 18-7 defeat to England.
That’s debatable. There has been no shortage of analysis and discussion on the latest loss in London in recent days. The general consensus is that Ireland learned nothing new from that experience. It was all worryingly familiar and it remains to be seen if the fifth chapter of these grim recent meetings against Eddie Jones’ bully boys plays out along the same script for the final round of the Six Nations next March.
For now, the focus shifts to the Georgians on Sunday and you’d wonder how much Farrell is going to learn from this outing as well. The Lelos — currently ranked 12th in the world — caused Scotland, England and Wales little trouble across this autumn schedule of fixtures: conceding 107 points and mustering just seven of their own during those three
For all the new caps, Ireland badly need to build some depth
meetings. Even their scrum and maul have lacked that customary Georgian edge recently. Last year’s defeat by Japan will focus minds, but Ireland should have little trouble here.
Therefore, it seemed like a perfect time to test out some of the rookies who are currently blazing a trail across the provinces in the Pro14. Think of Ciaran Frawley and Harry Byrne at Leinster, Rob Lyttle in Ulster or Craig Casey and Fineen Wycherly in Munster.
Farrell has decided that the new wave is best served in their provincial set-ups at the moment.
Only Eric O’Sullivan — the uncapped Ulster loosehead — was called up earlier this week, but the 24-year-old curiously failed to make the cut.
That seemed a bizarre call, given that Ireland look seriously short on frontline props at the moment. Cian Healy is doing a serious job on the loosehead side, but the stocks are looking a little bare behind the Leinster stalwart.
Ed Byrne’ s calf injury was another blow.
Switching Finlay Bealham over to loosehead seems a short-term fix at best here.
O’Sullivan — who has been in camp for five days — didn’t have enough time to get up to speed with the game plan, Farrell explained yesterday. This looked like a perfect opportunity to test the mettle of the 24- year- old against a grizzly Georgian pack.
Long term, it looks like Andrew Porter will switch pack to his more natural position of loosehead — where he excelled at U20 level — when Tadhg Furlong eventually returns and Tom O’Toole, another promising Ulster frontrower, gets back up to speed as well.
It may also have been a chance to give Ronan Kelleher another crack at hooker after Ireland’s lineout problems last time out. Rob Herring is back for this with Dave Heffernan on bench duties.
Again, how much will Farrell learn from that is up for debate. Likewise, CJ Stander at No8, Conor Murray at scrum- half, Jacob Stockdale at full-back or Keith Earls on the wing.
The interesting selections are Billy Burns at out-half and Stuart McCloskey at inside centre. Burns gets his first start after two cameos off the bench while McCloskey is back after two years in the international wilderness.
‘There’s some good combinations there with Billy, Stu and Jacob at full-back. They know each other pretty well ,’ said Farrell. ‘Looking at Conor, with his experience, regarding Billy playing his first game, that’s always going to be interesting for us.
‘We’re excited about this team going out and giving a performance. Writing a few wrongs from last week.
‘The obvious ones are getting some continuity from our setpiece. When we’re given the amount of possession that we had, making sure we play with our heads up and see the opportunities. Deliver on executing those opportunities.’
To be fair to Farrell, he has tried to broaden the playing base this year. If Shane Daly gets off the
bench on Sunday, the Munster fullback will be the 10th player to make his Ireland debut under Farrell’s watch.
Still, this does feel like an overly safe selection for what should be a fairly straightforward encounter. For all the new caps, Ireland badly need to build some depth at prop, hooker, lock and out-half.
As things stand, the players who could solve those problems are remaining on the Pro14 beat.
‘Like I said before, this is an opportunity for us to grow the playing pool,’ said Farrell.
‘Unless we find out and give people the opportunity, how do they gain the experience?
‘Having said that, you don’t come with a plan saying, “we’re going to cap 10 players”, opportunity arises for players regarding injury, etc.
‘We’re glad to grow the pool and find out about people. Then, when it comes to the Six Nations after Christmas then hopefully that pool is grown and you’ve got a few more headaches along the way.’
That appears tto be the plan. Come January, you would think that the likes of Craig Casey, Ryan Baird, Gavin Coombes and other young guns will be added to those Six Nations selection conversations. Garry Ringrose, Furlong, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan — who are either recovering or returning from injuries — should be in the mix as well.
That’s when the selection process will get really interesting.
Sunday’s assignment at the Aviva
Stadium is officially a Test match, but it’s doubtful how much Farrell and his squad will learn from it.