WHEN THE FIRST cuts were confirmed on Wednesday evening, they came with little warning.
While Andy Farrell had hinted that he might whittle his squad down before the announcement of his final 33 for the World Cup on Monday 28 August, Ireland hadn’t indicated any schedule for releasing the first crop of players.
So when the IRFU sent out a 75-word statement to let people know that Gavin Coombes, Caolin Blade, Calvin Nash, Jamie Osborne, and Kieran Treadwell had been cut ahead of Saturday’s clash with England, there was surprise in many quarters.
Initially, the intimation from Ireland camp was that everyone would get a shot in one of the three warm-up games but Farrell confirmed that wasn’t going to be the case after their win over Italy two weekends ago. Coombes, Osborne, and Treadwell are gone without a pre-season outing. They’ll need to rebound from the disappointment quickly and be ready if injuries result in a recall.
Speaking yesterday, Ireland boss Farrell explained that he felt the time was right to reduce the number of players in his wider squad, with the previous 42 now down to 38 after a call-up for Jeremy Loughman to cover the injured Dave Kilcoyne.
“I don’t like putting dates on things because it has to be a feel, what’s right for the group, and you get a sense of where the group is going and what needs to happen for it to kick on,” said Farrell.
“I suppose we’ve kept a lot of players a lot longer than other nations have, there’s reasons for that.
“There has to be times when you narrow it down, we go to France for a week next week to Biarritz, playing in Bayonne [against Samoa]. Getting the numbers down is pretty important with the numbers that we’ll have in the World Cup, etc.
“It’s more of a feel than anything else.”
The reality is that Farrell has had the vast majority of his squad picked for some time now. But he insisted that his mind remains open ahead of the announcement in a week-and-a-half’s time.
“We obviously are close and we’ve been juggling with it all the way through,” said Farrell.
“We’ve known in the background what that should or could look like but at the same time, we have a look at what’s been happening week in, week out, and different permutations on who’s fit and who doesn’t perform, etc.
“It changes your mind all the time because that guy could be a utility player for example and he covers three or four or five positions. So, we’ll see how we go again after this weekend and next.”
Many of the other World Cup teams have already named their final 33-man World Cup squads, but Farrell felt it was important to keep a bigger group connected in Ireland camp for as long as possible.
“I’ve been in so many groups, I can understand why guys do narrow it down quickly because people can be a hindrance if they feel that they might not be involved,” said Farrell.
“Doom and gloom around the corridors is not good. We don’t have that with any of our players. Every single player that came into the squad initially has done nothing but be the best team-mate they could possibly be.
“When you take into account where we are today and after our last warm-up game against Samoa, we’re still six weeks to the quarter-final, nine weeks until hopefully a final.
“It’s a long time to be disconnected, especially when the provinces are at the stage of their pre-season which is nowhere near where we’re at.
“Having said that, we’re pretty joined-up in the sense that the players who have just gone back have got the continuation of a programme.
“And the other guys who drop out will go into the provincial warm-up games that have been arranged to keep them going, keep them connected, making sure that when things do happen – and they will – they’ll be ready.”
Doris is the obvious choice. He is a guaranteed first choice in the starting XV in the years to come, a natural leader, cool-headed, disciplined, and he has an excellent rapport with referees.
@Brian Vales: I wasn’t expecting to see his name on the list, but it does make sense. I wonder though, why he has never been named as a captain before?(even for Leinster). I would like to see himself or Ringrose… but I have a sneaky suspicion it will be James Ryan. If it is, it will make or break him. POM deserves it, but it would be very much a short term, sentimental decision and I really don’t see the benefit.
@Brian Vales: 23 bit young yet
@Sèan: 25 ah mayby his time but i see ryan as captain
@Sèan: Lots of great captains start when they are early to mid twenties. McCaw, BOD and Dupont to name a few.
@Brian Vales: Nah, had a v quiet WC, he’ll be holding his place for a few seasons methinks, but captain? Dont be silly
@Paul Ennis: yes but we never name young captains and we never start young guys i mean aged 18 are 19 look scott penny still not capped
@Sèan: BOD was a young captain. Scott Penny may never be capped in a full blooded test and that’s nothing to do with age, more to do with size. We don’t take the risks that England, NZ and SA might take with a young player, but then our resources (of young starlets) are much thinner. Young players tend to be a little more fragile so the Irish setups like to mind them for longer. Not saying the Irish way is better, but it works for us and leads to a maximum % of our U20s completing the journey into professionalism.
@Paul Ennis: yes i agree hopefully it willchange
Ryan for me
@Sèan: If it aint broken
@Thesaltyurchin: had an amazing last few years hope he will be back good as new
@Sèan: Cant agree. still think he has form to find. but do agree he should be captain moving forward.
@Thesaltyurchin: being world class last 2 years didnt have a great game v SA and all the fans saying this haha crazy
@Sèan: I think Ryan’s game sometimes suffers with the extra responsibilities of captaincy.
@John Morris: mayby
Good big leadership group with Furlong, Ryan, Henderson, Doris, VDF, Ringrose, Aki, Keenan to name but a few. Probably Ryan for me. Would prefer a captain from the pack. Special mention to Aki, he really lead by example in this tournament and was superb and inspiring.
@Arjuna: hopefully aki at 33 has lot more years sexton 38 aki be 37 next world cup
The usual suspects, but 2027 is not an option for some and surely it’s a 4yr plan, not a 2yr fix? How about ‘none of the above’ ? Although there’s no need for wholesale changes in playing personnel in the immediate term, a refreshed psyche might be just what we need to go back to back slams for the first time and make 2024 an unbeaten year.
@John Morris: Has to be someone though. And who can be certain of their place in the team for the next 4 years? (I’d say the answer to that question is Porter and Sheehan btw). Personally I’d go for Ringrose – also helps that he usually plays the full 80 minutes
@Kevin Ryan: I’ll give you Garry on mature reflection!
Ryan is the safe choice here but I could see others coming up in the next cycle as outside bets , the likes of Penny & Prendergast could be knocking on the captaincy door by 2026
@Owen ODonoghue: one game at a time
The first task of the new captain is to take on a wounded France in defence of our 6N’s title. Be prepared for an experienced player like Pete, JR, or Henderson.
The issue with Ryan is that he is no longer a nailed on starter for Ireland and you cannot skipper a team from the bench. Peter O’Mahony is the obvious choice at least for next season
@john buckley: why he longer nailed starter last two years he has being amaxing one so called poor game v SA and all saying this
He has never been dropped before – particularly for what was, at the time, a vital game. I am not saying that he will not regain his place but he has to show more more than his recent displays in France, which got him benched in the first place. He may be better off, at least in the short term, concentrating on himself, without the additional pressure of being captain.
@john buckley: ok but he has beingworld class last 2 years had one bad game must remember you cant play brillent every game could say that about every player right