IRELAND ASSISTANT COACH Simon Easterby has confirmed that Ireland are unlikely to deviate from the 5/3 split of forwards and backs they usually use on their bench for this Saturday’s World Cup clash with South Africa.
The Springboks yesterday named a 7/1 bench split for the Pool B meeting in Paris, prompting debate over whether Ireland should opt for a 6/2 split of their own to counter the South Africans’ decision.
However, Easterby has indicated that Ireland are intent on focusing on their own approach, rather than reacting to the Boks. Andy Farrell is due to name his matchday 23 tomorrow afternoon.
“We haven’t tinkered with that split before and there might be times where through injury or other reasons [that happens], but I’d say we’ll be fairly conventional in what we do at the weekend in terms of the split,” said Easterby in Tours this afternoon.
“It’s not something we’ve taken a huge amount of time looking at. It’s a talking point but at the end of the day, it’s their decision and strategy to go with that. Ours will be slightly different.
“Obviously, they believe that’s the way they need to set themselves to beat us on Saturday. Just like we’ll be playing the way we want to beat South Africa. Listen, it’s a talking point. I don’t think it changes anything for us, to be honest.”
Ireland back row Jack Conan is set to miss out on making a return from injury on the bench this weekend, with Easterby essentially ruling him out of the Springboks clash.
Conan has been sidelined with a foot injury since early August and though he has made progress by returning to running on the pitch and taking some part in team training, this weekend will come too soon.
More positively, tighthead prop Finlay Bealham and hooker Dan Sheehan are back in the selection mix.
“Everyone trained really well today, to be honest,” said Easterby. “Jack’s probably the only one that’s slightly behind in terms of being able to get himself right for the weekend.
“He’s recovering well as the medics and conditioners get him up to speed and he’s probably on track for where we thought he’d be at this stage. He’s done really well, we’re happy with his progress.
“Finlay and Dan both trained really well today, so they’re back in the mix.”
Much of the pre-match discussion of this game has focused on the Springboks, despite Ireland being the world-number-one team and currently enjoying a 15-game winning streak.
Easterby doesn’t seem bothered that most of the attention is on South Africa.
“I think everyone knows this game was always going to be the big game that we had in the first three rounds, we’ve built up nicely through Romania and Tonga, we’ve ironed out a few things in our attack, the same defensively,” said Easterby.
“We were tested way more against Tonga. I think we always knew that this was going to be the pivotal game leading up to Scotland two weeks after. We’re just going about our business at the moment. I guess press and media and supporters in particular are speculating about what they might bring.
“We obviously are really confident and trust in what we’ve been doing, not just recently but in the last year and a half, two years and this is what we’ve been building towards. Hopefully we will see plenty of that on Saturday as well.”
The 7-1 split is high risk, high reward. To me there is more than a hint of desperation to it, I think we have the Boks rattled and they are resorting to desperate measures to try beat us.
@Noel Roe: I’m not sure. I think when we’ve hit the 55th-60th minute mark in the game, and suddenly a whole new forward pack comes on and start linking up, running lines and smashing into our tiring forwards could be the difference.
@greg cavey: remember Ireland will have 5 fresh forwards on too, also Ireland could have Henshaw on smashing into 2 tired SA centres
Conan needs to be 100% to be on the bench, sounds like he’s not, so for me: 16:Sheehan. 17:Kilcoyne. 18:Bealham. 19:Henderson. 20: McCarthy. Berine to move to 6 at 50/60 mins. Baird is immense, but having two fresh and big 2nd rows for the last 25 mins will matter vs the 7-1 SA split
@Andrew Slazenger: Baird and McCarthy v RG and Klyen. Advance SA I’d say
@Andrew Slazenger: Not sure Henderson is on top form yet. Would have Baird instead. Just an FYI, they are all the same size 1.98m ;0)
@Con Cussed: I think Henderson is going to start. If not he’s on the bench. No way Farrell is leaving his experience and size out of the match day squad.
@Con Cussed: Same height but not same weight, which matters for the scrum, maul and contact. Henderson: 116kg. McCarthy: 120kg and Baird: 113kg
Some joke that Conan is being kept around, bring in a replacement, get them up to speed and have another body in training/pushing for selection.
@Jerry K: think that’s a bit harsh. Conan the quality of player who’s worth waiting for I’d say. I’d guess he’ll be in the mix for the Scotland game given the week of after SA and think, if fit he’s a better option than anyone else outside the 33
@Donal Peoples: an injured Conan who can’t play is not a better option than everyone else outside the 33
@Jerry K: management are clearly saying the step down from Conan to next off the rank is too much – however, if he’s not training fully next week, time is surely up?
@Donal Peoples: I don’t get fuss about Conan. He’s decent yes but he’s by no means is he a world class player. Fair enough if this fuss was about an injured Doris, VDF or Porter. Coombes or Prendergast could easily slot in
@Jerry K: Coombes be like lickin’ his lips for a crack at it
@Frank Grimes: Conan started three Lions tests …maybe not world class but was then considered the best available no 8 between the four nations
@Diarmuid O’Rourke: yep vunipola, Doris and falateu were injured. His direct competition was Sam effing simmonds
@Frank Grimes: Probably better that you say nothing, when you haven’t a clue what you are talking about……..
@munsterman: Falateu was on the bench …still if you don’t think three lions tests isn’t a testament. I think he also played in all three NZ tests this summer.
So maybe not rated by some commentators here, but Gatland, Farrell and Cullen ..rate him really highly
@Diarmuid O’Rourke: Gatland wouldn’t pick Sexton, Ringrose, O’Mahony among others for that tour and they lost so what point do you think you’re making?
@Jerry K: Let’s remember that Conan is one of the best No 8s in the world.
He has so far missed 2 fairly inconsequential games vs Romania & Tonga. It is a pity he is not ready for SA, but there are potentially 4 more games after that where he could play a big part.
its a stick or twist scenario. SA twisted in order to deal with us, Advantage Ireland.
@Arjuna: You’d feel like Ireland sticking with the 5:3 or 6:2 is a real message of intent too. An ‘I see what you’ve done there, but we’re not budging from our gameplan’. Something that’s worked since last July when we went on this 15-game winning streak. Should be a spectacular game no matter the result.
Total waste of time bringing conan ahead of coombes!!!
@astnasquare: Coombes isn’t next in line.
@astnasquare: if Coombes was good enough he’d be there end of story
@astnasquare: Prendergast is next cab of the rank.
It’s true we are light at specialist 8 if Conan’s benched but he’s worth waiting for if he’s fit for Scotland and hopefully beyond We can manage , POM can pack down at 8 if we really need it, he knows how control a ball at the base if needs must . Robbie Henshaw is the size of many 7’s and bigger than Kwagga Smith and Deon Fourie so we do have size to come on . Farrell and his coaches have been getting it right for 2 years now and have faith in them now
@Marc Meehan: Faith in Farrell! Spot on!
Having a core group of guys that you rely on is all well and good when everyone is fit and playing well but we’re seeing the negatives now with Conan being brought despite not being able to play. Farrell decided not to trust Prendergast, Coombes or someone else and gave them few chances in games so now if something happens to Doris there’s no 8 in the squad.
@0UWMNglt: yes there is , Beirne played there in club and suspect he continues to train there too occasionally
@0UWMNglt: probably best not to worry about something that hasnt happened, and Conan is available at exactly time they originally thought he would be, so not sure what the issue is, unless you want to take over from Andy
@Paul Burke: Beirne is not a number 8 and doesn’t play there at all. Go find the last time he played 8 because he never has for Ireland or Munster so why are you making up stuff?
@Arjuna: Conan isn’t available. He’s not in the squad. What are you talking about?
@Arjuna: There seems to be a fair few posters here today that believe they know much more than Andy regarding Conan.
@0UWMNglt: Conan is well ahead of Prendergast and Coombes. We are less than 2 weeks into a 2 month tournament. Conan will have a role to play, and I am quite happy with him left out of 23 this week, as we may need him for a scotland game. No one making such a big fuss over the injured Sheehan being brought, so why the fuss over a loose forward where we have a lot of options
@Neil Collins: Conan is not well ahead of either of those two so get your Leinster hat off. He’s injured and can’t play with no guarantee that he’ll be fit for Scotland. They were talking initially that it wasn’t serious and yet he’s missed half the tournament. We literally don’t have a lot of cover as there’s only one other 8 in the squad.
@James: you Leinster fans need to get a grip. Conan’s injured and having injured players is not a good thing.
@James: people getting very het up alright James. What will they be like if something does go wrong!
@Arjuna: if something goes wrong there’ll probably be leinster fans calling into Joe Duffy blaming Munster fans for everything again
@Neil Collins: Yes ahead them when fit & match fit. Match fitness would be my only concern. JS is the exception who can hit the ground running after an extended lay off. Conan has played very little rugby since the Champions Cup. Hopefully he’ll be ok but it is a worry.
@0UWMNglt: : I don’t have a Leinster hat. More of a Connacht hat. So if Conan is injured, then what is Sheehan, yet no-one asking why he was included in squad. It’s a long tournament… You ask why Coombes or Prendregast not brought instead of Conan. Prendergast is not a number 8. Do you perhaps have a Munster hat, so ABL is the way you’d really prefer
@TL55: so why is no-one complaining that Sheehan is not match fit. Or Kelleher was not match fit. Conan will be fit for Scotland game, and we will need him. We are 2 (soft) games into a long tournament, and all is well right now. If we start losing some back row to injurues, Prendergast or Coombes will join, and in meantime we have 6 back row players in the squad, with options, and beyond that, we even have Bundee Aki…. who made a nice blind side for 10 mins last Saturday
The theatre around the Bomb squad is good craic and it could pull off for SA. That’s assuming they have no card or injury to a centre, full back or a Hooker. It’s also likely to be largely mitigated if Ireland’s 5 subs are sprung around the same mark as the SA bench. Can’t wait, will be a cracker.
McCarthy, POM, Beirne, Henderson and Baird can all play lock or flank and even 8 at a push. This gives Ireland great flexibility in been able to go with a 5/3 split. It allows for the likes of Henshaw and McCloskey as additional big ball carriers and great in defense, allowing for 1 one utility Crowley to cover wings and fullback. The front row we all know the firsts and seconds. That’s my take on it…..no worries.
I imagine we will see much the same team as against Tonga with only JGP starting and Sheehan on the bench being the changes.
@Tom Reilly: .. and Casey dropping out of 23.