DEPTH IN THE back row has never been a major issue for Irish rugby.
We seem to produce powerful, mobile, skillful and breakdown-hungry flankers in particular abundance, even if freakish specimens like Sean O’Brien and Stephen Ferris don’t burst through too often.
Even now, the level of competition for back row places is indicative of Ireland’s ability to churn these players into the professional game.
Joe Schmidt lost the experience and winning mentality of Jamie Heaslip to injury before the Italy and England games in recent weeks. No problem, as Jordi Murphy stepped in to carry hard against the Italians and rack up a phenomenal workload last weekend in Dublin.
Sean O’Brien had to be replaced minutes before the start of the Italian win and just after the quarter mark in the England victory. No problem, as Tommy O’Donnell stepped in both times to get through a mountain of work in the breakdown, tackle and carry.
Rhys Ruddock – a standout in November – hasn’t even been in the mix due to a broken arm, Chris Henry remains on the comeback trail at Ulster after his health scare in November, while Dominic Ryan is on the periphery.
It is incredibly competitive and that’s the great thing about it, you have to be raising your game,” says O’Donnell of the back row options Schmidt possesses even when injuries occur.
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“It’s great to see that everyone coming in is raising their game as it just keeps adding more competition. It breeds confidence in the squad as well; if one player goes out, another can just step in and do a job.
“The team doesn’t suffer because of it and it’s a great statement of where Irish rugby is at the moment.”
O'Donnell trained with Ireland in Belfast yesterday. Presseye / Russell Pritchard/INPHO
Presseye / Russell Pritchard/INPHO / Russell Pritchard/INPHO
In terms of raising the game, O’Donnell has done all he can to impress. After a try-scoring, lung-busting outing in Italy, the Tipp man replaced O’Brien to great effect in last weekend’s 19-9 win over England.
10 firm tackles, 24 impactful ruck involvements and 10 strong carries to beat three defenders mean O’Donnell has laid down his marker at openside. Both of these Six Nations appearances have come in ‘surprise’ circumstances due to O’Brien’s injuries, but O’Donnell hasn’t been taken aback.
“I suppose if you can come in off the bench straight off the warm-up [as he did against Italy], it’s not going to get much harder than that.
Coming off the bench after 20 minutes [against England], I was thinking, ‘Ok, I’ve done this before.’ It was just a matter of slotting in and doing what I do, going about it to the best of my ability.”
The 27-year-old was “happy” with his performance, although he’s the type of player who sometimes reviews his performances in a critical light. Simply a sign of his constant thirst for improvement.
Next up for O’Donnell and Ireland is the visit to Wales, who place such store in the physical part of the game. From Jamie Roberts, to Alun-Wyn Jones and George North, Warren Gatland’s side relish that element of the 80 minutes.
O’Donnell points to the collisions and set-piece tussle as almost certainly being a decisive factor.
The Tipp man carries hard at the English defence. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“With Wales, they’re already talking about our physicality and clinical side, so they’re going to bring that huge physicality and I think they’re talking about matching us there,” says O’Donnell.
“We have to be accurate, match the physicality and be as good as we can be. Hopefully the result will go our way then.”
The positive progress Jamie Heaslip is making means Jordi Murphy’s spot at number eight is under threat, while Sean O’Brien’s return-to-play protocols after concussion are proceeding as planned.
If both Heaslip and O’Brien do recover in time to face the Welsh, it may mean a direct battle between Murphy and O’Donnell for the back row bench spot. We wouldn’t envy Schmidt any such decision.
O’Donnell’s focus is on working as hard as he can at Carton House from Sunday evening, when Ireland reconvene, in order to convince Schmidt of his need to include the Munster man for the visit to Wales.
Meanwhile, he admits the Cahir faithful are probably “already scheming and coming up with plans of how to get over” to Cardiff to lead the support at the Millenium Stadium.
Schmidt can rest assured that O’Donnell will deliver again if called upon.
Munster man O'Donnell welcomes Ireland's back row competition
DEPTH IN THE back row has never been a major issue for Irish rugby.
We seem to produce powerful, mobile, skillful and breakdown-hungry flankers in particular abundance, even if freakish specimens like Sean O’Brien and Stephen Ferris don’t burst through too often.
Even now, the level of competition for back row places is indicative of Ireland’s ability to churn these players into the professional game.
Joe Schmidt lost the experience and winning mentality of Jamie Heaslip to injury before the Italy and England games in recent weeks. No problem, as Jordi Murphy stepped in to carry hard against the Italians and rack up a phenomenal workload last weekend in Dublin.
Sean O’Brien had to be replaced minutes before the start of the Italian win and just after the quarter mark in the England victory. No problem, as Tommy O’Donnell stepped in both times to get through a mountain of work in the breakdown, tackle and carry.
Rhys Ruddock – a standout in November – hasn’t even been in the mix due to a broken arm, Chris Henry remains on the comeback trail at Ulster after his health scare in November, while Dominic Ryan is on the periphery.
“It’s great to see that everyone coming in is raising their game as it just keeps adding more competition. It breeds confidence in the squad as well; if one player goes out, another can just step in and do a job.
“The team doesn’t suffer because of it and it’s a great statement of where Irish rugby is at the moment.”
In terms of raising the game, O’Donnell has done all he can to impress. After a try-scoring, lung-busting outing in Italy, the Tipp man replaced O’Brien to great effect in last weekend’s 19-9 win over England.
10 firm tackles, 24 impactful ruck involvements and 10 strong carries to beat three defenders mean O’Donnell has laid down his marker at openside. Both of these Six Nations appearances have come in ‘surprise’ circumstances due to O’Brien’s injuries, but O’Donnell hasn’t been taken aback.
“I suppose if you can come in off the bench straight off the warm-up [as he did against Italy], it’s not going to get much harder than that.
The 27-year-old was “happy” with his performance, although he’s the type of player who sometimes reviews his performances in a critical light. Simply a sign of his constant thirst for improvement.
Next up for O’Donnell and Ireland is the visit to Wales, who place such store in the physical part of the game. From Jamie Roberts, to Alun-Wyn Jones and George North, Warren Gatland’s side relish that element of the 80 minutes.
O’Donnell points to the collisions and set-piece tussle as almost certainly being a decisive factor.
“With Wales, they’re already talking about our physicality and clinical side, so they’re going to bring that huge physicality and I think they’re talking about matching us there,” says O’Donnell.
“We have to be accurate, match the physicality and be as good as we can be. Hopefully the result will go our way then.”
The positive progress Jamie Heaslip is making means Jordi Murphy’s spot at number eight is under threat, while Sean O’Brien’s return-to-play protocols after concussion are proceeding as planned.
If both Heaslip and O’Brien do recover in time to face the Welsh, it may mean a direct battle between Murphy and O’Donnell for the back row bench spot. We wouldn’t envy Schmidt any such decision.
O’Donnell’s focus is on working as hard as he can at Carton House from Sunday evening, when Ireland reconvene, in order to convince Schmidt of his need to include the Munster man for the visit to Wales.
Meanwhile, he admits the Cahir faithful are probably “already scheming and coming up with plans of how to get over” to Cardiff to lead the support at the Millenium Stadium.
Schmidt can rest assured that O’Donnell will deliver again if called upon.
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6Nations All-Ireland Senior HC Six Nations Ireland Munster Wales tod Tommy O'Donnell