FOR MANY IRISH rugby players, there are just two games left in what has been the strangest season ever.
In fact, some may only play in one of their provinces’ two remaining Rainbow Cup games. Others might not even get another chance at all.
The Irish Lions will be in action all the way into August, of course, while Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad will end their 2020/21 campaign after a clash with the USA in Dublin on 10 July.
There may be some crossover between those two groups if any of Warren Gatland’s Lions get injured. The likes of James Ryan and Garry Ringrose will be keeping their phones on at all times.
Regardless of hopes of a late Lions call-up, everyone wants to be part of the Ireland squad Farrell will name in the days after the Rainbow Cup final on 19 June, with Tests against Japan and the US Eagles to come in place of the cancelled tour of Fiji.
While the Fijians have sorted two games against the All Blacks for July, Ireland’s replacement fixtures aren’t the worst.
Japan haven’t played since their home 2019 World Cup but they were quarter-finalists in that competition and played some of its most thrilling rugby under Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown. The Brave Blossoms will face Gatland’s Lions in Edinburgh the weekend before their clash in Dublin on 3 July, so will have a high-level warm-up.
The US have been similarly game-less since the World Cup but they will be in Twickenham to play England the weekend before their own visit to the Aviva Stadium. They’re ranked 16th in the world and have yet to beat Ireland in 10 Tests, so it’s the more straightforward of the two Tests on paper.
Down eight players due to Lions call-ups, it will be fascinating to see who Farrell includes in his squad for the two summer fixtures.
Ryan Baird and Craig Casey, who made debuts during the Six Nations this year, will hope for further Test exposure, while the uncapped Tom O’Toole – who was also part of Farrell’s squad for the championship – will presumably get his first cap. Harry Byrne is another who has been around the squad several times already.
Munster man Gavin Coombes looks a certainty to wear a green shirt for the first time after his brilliant season, while a host of other uncapped players including Gavin Thornbury, Scott Penny, Michael Lowry, Nick Timoney, Paul Boyle, Tom Daly, James Hume, Ciarán Frawley, and Robert Baloucoune have impressed for their provinces.
Caelan Doris’ recent return from concussion means he could also make a welcome comeback with Ireland this summer and it seems likely Joey Carbery will be reintegrated for the first time since the 2019 World Cup.
With Conor Murray away on Lions duty, there is an opening in the scrum-half pecking order and Farrell isn’t short of options in that position.
Farrell will surely view these two games as developmental opportunities but he is also unlikely to send out two teams full of inexperienced players. Instead, we can expect a combination of senior squad regulars and some fresher faces.
It will be intriguing to note who captains Ireland, with Johnny Sexton still sidelined due to concussion as things stand. The 35-year-old has signed on with the IRFU for next season, so he is going nowhere, but it may be a chance for Farrell to give other leaders greater responsibility if Sexton isn’t back.
Of course, Sexton and other leading players will be determined to play as they look to convince Gatland of their merits for a late Lions call, so it wouldn’t be straightforward for Farrell to tell established figures that they can finish their seasons before the end of June.
As Connacht, Munster, and Ulster all get set for Rainbow Cup games this weekend, with Leinster back in action on 4 June, Farrell has still got plenty to weigh up.
This next squad will be a really interesting one, the temptation is there to leave out a lot of the older guys but I think there will be some element of experience in the squad. AF has gone on record before saying that performances at heineken cup level are important so that may rule a few guys out. I’d go for something like
LH: killer, O sullivan, Byrne
H: Kelleher, Herring, Scannell
TH: O Toole, Bealham, Ryan
L: Ryan, Thornbury, Baird, Dillane, Kleyn
BR: Dorris, VDF, Connors, Coombes, Boyle, O Mahony (c)
SH: Blade, Gibson Park, Casey
OH: Carbery, Ross Byrne, Burns
C: Ringrose, Hume, Farrell, Tom Daly
B3: keenan, Baloucoune, Daly, Haley, Wootton, conway.
@Jim Demps: how does larmour not go
@Jim Demps: Penny over Boyle.
@JJ Doyle: Because Jim dislikes him
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: ah ok was wondering how especially going off Heineken cup form how he doesn’t go over wotton but tbh I agree with most of his team except probably put penny in there and Harry Byrne if fit
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: has penny played in the heineken cup?
@Jim Demps: Summer series. Throw caution to the wind. Be brave, he has been one of the best players in the Pro 14 this season. His ceiling is higher than Boyle’s.
@JJ Doyle: it’s not a full strength side. Just a mix of experienced guys who need to find form like Ryan and o mahony and new talent. I think Larmour has shown he’s no fullback and doesn’t have anything to prove on the wing. it’s worth a look at the likes of Wootton and Baloucoune on the wing. Just what I think.
@Jim Demps: has Boyle ? I like Boyle but going off that logic
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: maybe Cullen should have done that. Perhaps drop out VDF for him but I wouldn’t think there’s room for 3 7s. Sure he plays a bit of 8 but at that position he’s a good bit behind Boyle, Timoney and Coombes. Butler could be a surprise inclusion maybe? Either way it’d be good to see penny play a bit of heineken cup this coming season and see if he can make the step up.
@JJ Doyle: indeed he has.
@Jim Demps: Jim ur 100% correct that’s my mistake I was more thinking knockout but fair enough
@Jim Demps: interesting that Munster has the biggest representation Jim.
@Jim Demps: Tom Farrell is injured Jim. Andy Farrell won’t be picking him in the centre unfortunately.
@David Finn: Chris Farrell
@Jim Demps:
No Ruddock
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Jim doesn’t like Penny since he made a mockery of his claims he was moving to munster.
@David Finn: is there an update on when Tom Farrell is likely to return? One of my favourite players to watch. Would 100% get him capped this summer if he was fit. He’s so unfortubate with injury. Chris Farrell has had his chances at international level and he’s not good enough plain and simple. Good Pro14 player though.
@Carmine Lorenzo: what chances has Chris farrell had at international level? A game every now and again
@Tim Magner: with an of the match performance to boot.
Think its unfair that Mccloskey hasn’t been mentioned. Easily top 3 12s irish qualified players. Would love to see him get a proper run with henshaw at 13 when both are available
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Butler has had an outstanding season with Connacht. Can play 6,7 &8. Deserves a chance as much as anyone else. Penny will get game time too.
@Colm Cunningham: Can anyone confirm what Penny is likely to do with the house he doesn’t need?
Penny being punished here because he plays for the team with outstanding depth. Embarrasing to say Cullen should have dropped JVDF if Penny wants game time. VDF is Ireland’s incumbent 7. The other players named at the other provinces aren’t being kept from Heineken Cup positions by the current Irish starter in that position.
@Carmine Lorenzo: he’s nearing fitness apparently Carmine but it will be next season before he’s back. At that point we’ll see if he can regain the form of last season and early this when he should provide another creative option at 13 for Andy Farrell.
Agree re Chris Farrell. A decent Pro14 level player.
@Jim Demps: not much point picking players ho really have no future at this level. Klyen? Why not pick Alan O’Connor he does the same job.
As for POM as captain he is not a good captain. Results over the past number of seasons prove this. Like sexton refs just don’t like his constant moaning and belittling stares with ever decision they make.
@Ricky Wright: Hes commuting from limerick to dublin for training
I’d be inclined to introduce more youth into the front row, with an eye to building for the future, especially with the opposition were facing. We know what Bealham & Ryan bring, so I’d swap one of them out for Salanoa or Knox. We also know what Scannell brings, so I’d add Sheehan to the squad from a developmental perspective.
Our loosehead options are seriously worrying.
@Daithí O’ Donnabhain: I agree but not convinced Farrell will pick many of the younger guys
I’ll be very disappointed if we don’t see either Frawley / Lowry or Harry junior – at least one of the younger potential tens or else what’s the point
The back ups to johnnie are all fine but limited and all now late 20s ( Ross at 26 the youngest
The argument against “risking “ the guys I named is limited experience –
On the loose head issue and I agree BUT we do have two of the best props in the world chosen for the lions one of whom played most his early rugby at 1
@John Lowry: spot on John, I think we’ll both be disappointed & he’ll pick the usuals in the areas we need to develop, but we’ll live in hope! The problem with those usuals is they aren’t top quality & many are stop gaps. It’s unfair to name names, but we all know who they are. These tests are the perfect opportunity to introduce players that may or may not step up to become established internationals, we’ll never know unless they’re exposed to that level now, not in their mid twenties.
On the front row, even if Porter moved to loosehead, which would mean a world class front row once an established hooker steps up, we’re still in need of high quality back up at loosehead. At the moment it doesn’t appear to be there.
Let’s be clear, he really only watches 3 provinces!!
Facaniting??
A 31 man squad is probably sufficient for these two internationals. With the emphasis on seeing if certain players can make the step up, giving badly-needed game time to some coming back from injury, and some experienced heads maybe something like the following:
Props – Kilcoyne, O’Sullivan, Ryan, Bealham, O’Toole.
Hookers – Kelleher, Herring, Delahunt.
Locks – Ryan, Baird, Thornbury, Dillane.
Back Row – Ruddock (capt), Coombes, van der Flier, Connors (if fit), Boyle.
SH – Cooney, Blade, Casey.
OH – Lowry, H Byrne.
Centre – T Daly, McCloskey, Hume, Ringrose (vice Capt).
Back 3 – Keenan, Balocoune, Earls, Stockdale, Wootton.
@David Finn: you were doing OK until you got to Earls. No need to include him in these squads. If it was competive I’d start him but if forward planning is the idea na.
Aa