THE WAY ANDY Farrell sees the game going, being able to play at as high a tempo as possible is crucial for Ireland in the coming years.
We have seen glimpses of what the Ireland head coach is looking for. In their most recent outing, an impressive win at home against England, Farrell’s side had real speed in their game at times.
But Farrell wants more, starting with next month’s Tests against Japan and the US. He is hoping for a fearless approach from his Irish players as they look to expand their game.
“I think over the next couple of years the way that World Rugby are trying to address all sorts of things regarding scrum, breakdown, etc., it all gears to the game being safer and speeding up,” said Farrell yesterday.
“So being able to play what’s in front of you and being able to play quick is going to be absolutely vital and it’s something that we’ve already started and something that we want to see a big improvement in.”
In that light, the 37-man squad Farrell announced yesterday for July Tests against Japan and the US makes plenty of sense.
His three scrum-halves – Craig Casey, Jamison Gibson-Park, and the uncapped Caolin Blade – all thrive in a high-tempo approach. Several of the other new faces have real pace, including wing Robert Baloucoune and back row Nick Timoney.
Farrell even spoke about speed when discussing his uncapped selection at out-half, Harry Byrne, who has been picked alongside fellow attacking-minded playmakers Joey Carbery and Billy Burns.
“He plays really quick, he flows in both sides, he’s able to play in front of him, he takes the ball to the line, his distribution, his speed of pass is very good and he’s also brave at taking people on as well,” said Farrell of Byrne. “He has an array in his attacking kicking game because his vision is very good.”
The Ireland boss then wondered aloud whether the likes of 22-year-old Byrne, Connacht man Blade, and his other new call-ups can do it at international level.
“That’s what we’re here to find out, which is great.”
If it’s speed Farrell is after, a clash with Japan on 3 July should be ideal. Jamie Joseph’s side set out to play the fastest rugby in the sport at their home 2019 World Cup and certainly made an impression in that sense.
The Brave Blossoms were understandably rusty in last weekend’s win over the Sunwolves in what was their first game since the World Cup, but they have players of top-level quality. Their last meeting with Ireland was, of course, that famous victory in Shizuoka that shocked Joe Schmidt’s side.
The US haven’t played since 2019 either and a seemingly serious injury for in-form captain and Dublin native AJ MacGinty last weekend while playing for Sale is very worrying. It would be a surprise if Farrell doesn’t field a fresh-faced team in that game on 10 July.
While there are 11 uncapped players in this Ireland squad, with stalwarts Johnny Sexton, Keith Earls, and Cian Healy rested, there are still plenty of senior squad regulars involved.
Carbery and Caelan Doris’ returns to the Test scene will be welcome, while the likes of Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, captain James Ryan, Dave Kilcoyne, Peter O’Mahony, Jordan Larmour, and Jacob Stockdale will relish getting more international experience for differing reasons. Some could even get a late call from the Lions yet.
Farrell is keen for Ryan and a few others to develop their leadership skills with the likes of Sexton absent, while he will also be settling on a new-look back row given that CJ Stander’s time with Ireland is now over.
Doris will look to resume his rise at this level, while Munster man Gavin Coombes looks set to make a real impact after his superb season.
“There is an opportunity for someone to make a name for themselves and stake a claim,” said Farrell. “I think Caelan certainly started that, he had a great game coming back into some good form after being out for quite some time the other night at the RDS.
“Gavin Coombes is doing really well. We’ll see who can step up consistently well to be able to deal with the pressures of international rugby.
“I think you’ll agree we’re pretty lucky in that area when you look at Dan Leavy who has to come back in there as well, hopefully he gets fit very soon… Will Connors, who has made great strides with us over the last two years.
“And then the lads who are getting a chance, Paul Boyle who has had a great season, I think he’s going to relish coming into this type of pressured environment.
“You look at people like Nick Timoney who has been making break after break and poach after poach, and even somebody like Scott Penny, who was excellent at the weekend, who misses out, so there’s some real good talent in and around that back row area.”
Tough game. Happy to get the win. Frawley had an off night and has never convinced me at 10. On the plus side Boyle was good. He surely impressed Easterby. Good to keep the run going.
@Kevin: I agree. If I was Fawley I would insist that I want to play at 12 and nowhere else. Why? Well because it’s his best position and really he looks out of place anywhere else.And he is a good 12.
@Tom Reilly: And then he doesn’t start another game for the rest of the season!! Harry is gone to Bristol. When the full squad is back, he is second choice 10. When they are away he is 1st choice. Can we say the same at 12? He is at best 3rd choice 12, maybe 4th if you include Osbourne. When the Irish international are away, he still 2nd choice at best. Tector didn’t have his best game yesterday, but he can be very good at 12 too. Plus, he is on record that his preferred position is 10. I am sure he said it less diplomatically to Leo after the SA Summer tour and demanded his performances deserve a crack as the starting 10. Imagine if he went back into Leo’s office now and demanded to play 12 instead???
@Paul Ennis: farrell is a fantastic of putting players in with good experienced players around him. He was forcing stuff and it didn’t come off. Luke doesn’t help and 2 centres outside who 1 of them isn’t a centre and the other is just breaking through didn’t help either. Still he didn’t do himself any favours.
@chris mcdonnell: Ross Byrne has played outside Luke for 4 or 5 years against better teams than the Ospreys and we won better than last night. Poor performances are never on one player. I felt that the pack did not enforce themselves and made it very difficult for both half backs. The 6 for Ospreys (Harry Beavin I think?) had the game of his life and had me wondering why he isn’t in the squad for next week. He made life very difficult for us… and I hate referee bashing, but both of the Maul tries were secured on the back of not straight lineouts that the referee missed (we competed for both and Tipuric caught both of them on his outside shoulder). Those 2 tries kept the O’s in it. If the game wasn’t so tight, heads would have dropped and Leinster would have pulled away.
It’s difficult for poor Frawley to make an impact with a service like that. Leinster 9 need stronger back up to JGP.
@John Morris: service had nothing to do with his poor distribution. He just had one of those poor games.
@John Morris: or we can look at the reality, he’s not a 10, was never a 10 and Lancaster was absolutely right about that. He’s a good 12 and a decent 15 but was never a top level 10.
@John Morris: we lost one of the most exciting 9′s in the country because he couldn’t get game time ahead of mcgrath but them again it took farrell’s intervention to get JGP a game so nothing new there
Paddy mc looked good, absolutely busting lads out of it in the rucks in the second half. I like soroka, very abrasive. But it’s the old chestnut, where does he fit in when the internationals are back.
@JamesK: Defintly rate him highly
@JamesK: impressed with both young looseheads for leinster. Paddy has put on a good bit of bulk without losing his athleticism. Hopefully both get good game time for the rest of the year and paddy gets on the summer tour
@JamesK: Yeah his body comp has totally changed in a few months. Looks really like a prop now. Seemed to be moving dynamically enough like he did at 20s too.
Lads you’re all very critical. Have you ever gone on a long holiday from work & come back on your first day & nailed it. All of these guys haven’t play a competitive game in a month or longer.
@Gerry Hayden: well said even when an irish team wins they have to moan
@Gerry Hayden: No, I’ve never been on a months holidays. I’m not a school teacher.
@Ray Ridge: And not successful enough with your bets.
15 wins in a row job done
@Seanie: most important games to win
Harry Deaves head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch tonight. He has a long international career ahead of him. One player whose international career is over before it’s properly started is Cieran Frawley. Can’t even pass the ball. Can’t kick it either. Definitely the most overhyped rugby player in the history of the game.
@Ray Ridge: Frawleys talents lie in plugging holes in the backline off the bench.
Never seems to perform from a starting role, at least not at ten.
@Ray Ridge: A clueless assessment. How did Ireland get on vs Scotland last week?
@Ray Ridge: Who
@Ray Ridge: O brien has more talent in his right finger compaired to HD
@Ray Ridge: nah that accolade goes to Harry Byrne, followed by Sam prendergast, although in fairness, Crawley gets bronze
@Cian Halley: frawley, typo.
@Cian Halley: Sam is real deal
@Ray Ridge: Frawley’s skill set has taken a pounding since he ‘bulked’ up to his height. He was promising as a 21yr old than of late. Sam P is taller again and he faces a similar possibility if he goes that way in the gym. As for today, ‘off day’ counts for little, and Leinster would lost that game without their NIQs.
@John Morris: Another bewildering poor assessment and take on things after Frawley has one bad game. For context, Jack Crowley has stank the place out in 80% of the games he’s played this season but you don’t see similar assessments. Funny how that works. Give Frawley a break FFS.
@John Morris: if my sister was a boy she be my brother then won ffs enjoy it
@Seanie: they
@Ray Ridge: quiet, bozo
@Carmine Lorenzo: Carmine, how have you not muted him yet? I couldn’t survive if I was exposed to that type of negativity on a daily basis.
@Carmine Lorenzo: going by the comments on here, it is mostly blue supporters giving out about him
@John Morris: Shock – Leinster had 2 players in their team today whobhelp them win a tricky game away from home!! They also would have lost it without McCarthy and Boyle but you didn’t feel that was relevant to mention? So because Sam P is tall, he faces the possibility of bulking up too much?? I think that is the most desperate attempt yet I have heard to try to talk sown Sam P. And finally, Frawley was never a skinny kid. It was one ofnthe things going for him when he was younger. But every time and opportunity came up for him, he picked up an injury. There was even one in a warm up for a European game. He was riddled with bad luck. And then, coming to the end of Sexton’s career, he just could get in front of the 2 Byrnes. Now Sam is there. His confidence is the issue, not his bulk.
@John Morris: Would have lost that game without their IQs too. What a silly comment
@PJ Smith: I disagree, this is an example of a ‘tricky’ fixture which Leinster have lost in the past. The winning try was a combo of RG and Slimani, and Leinster did not look like scoring again. Hard fact- they were surviving at the end and not pounding the line for a BP.
@Paul Ennis: desperate attempt to knock Sam P? Read my post again, it was clearly a concern for a possibility in Sam’s further (physical) development, not a put down. Loads of comments out there on his need to bulk up- I was just pointing out, by example, a possible outcome of that route. How can that be pathetic? I would hate to see his skills lost as a result.
@John Morris: Faux concern. I will be the first to admit if I have read a comment in the wrong context, but there is too much of this type of BS going on. Reminds me of Eddie Jones’ “concern” for Johnny Sexton’s welfare in the lead up to the 2022 6N match at Twickenham. You are in exhalted company.
Happy with that The wins picked up during the Six Nations are invaluable and Ospereys are a good side under their new coach. Great test for the less experienced guys.
@Conor Lynott: this one and Cardiff are actually must wins. We’ve 2 South African games away right after the 6 nations, so we’ll be without all the front liners, bar maybe a handful like furlong if he’ll be fit. It’ll be a big ask to pick up points down there
@JamesK: must win’s? Unbeaten all season they can afford a loss are 2
@Teddy O neill: Glasgow are 15 points behind with a game in hand, playing dragons on Sunday’s can assume top marks.
We’ve been stung before not having home advantage come May when fighting on both fronts, so these games are key pre SA
@JamesK: A lot of those guys tonight have been down to SA before. Soroka, Deeny, Penny, Gus McCarthy, Tom Clarkson, Michael Milne have all been on SA tours. Plus, you have Snyman and Barritt available hopefully and Tadhg Furlong. And the SA tour does not coincide with Europe this season so the coaching team won’t have to split up like last year and the year before to train two groups. That is an advantage. And we’re at home next week. So I’ve reasons to be options about the next three rounds.
@Teddy O neill: But can we afford 3
Firstly the frontrow were fantastic, penny and deagan also very good and in fairness all the forwards were good. The backs, on the other hand, Frawley was poor, mcgrath is awful, a scrumhalf who can’t pass a rugby ball and makes dreadful decisions. Osbourne should not be allowed drive home as he was clearly drunk. Both centres were ok as was the two wingers. Ross came on and while I am not a fan I did expect him to actually get a grip on the game and do a better job than frawley but he was invisible and just didn’t take advantage of frawleys poor display. I will say those 4 points will help come the end of the season especially if this is the squad that travels to SA. This was not a game that anyone will watch more than once.
@chris mcdonnell: haha
@chris mcdonnell: Drunk lol
@chris mcdonnell: I’m glad someone mentioned Harri Deaves. He was excellent, a real menace at the break down. Justin Tipuric had a great game as well. Wales could do a lot worse than drag him out of international retirement to finish off the six nations.
@peter lynch: Thank you. As I said, Deaves was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch.
Really happy with that. They have historically always been a bogey side. Plus they were unbeaten in 5 or 6. Not a classic performance but some good performances. Our 6 front rows were very good. Soroka made quite the impact too. Poor old Frawley didn’t have his best game, he was definitely forcing it. Ideally he’d be able to correct things next week but the reality is he may not get a chance again at 10 this season. Ross will probably get the start in the early March fixture.
@Carmine Lorenzo: frawely had a mare but Ross didn’t do much better. In fact the last 5 minutes he didn’t step up and close out the game like he should have done. He allowed the forwards play the game out and they gave away the penalty that should have cost us the game rather than take control as fans of his says he does. Not defending frawely he was poor but at least he tries things ross just doesn’t step up. Saying that worse than both frawley and ross was osbournes display. He was awful.
@Carmine Lorenzo: you’ve said again Ospreys are a bogey side. They’ve won 3 out of 18
@chris mcdonnell: It looked to me like Frawls has taken a step backwards. In the first half he was pushing things too much. He has getting stuck at the bottom of rucks, forcing kicks that were not on (one of them high risk in his own 22). Looking for the killer pass that is just outside his range. It is almost as if he is trying to prove that he can compete with Sam. Unfortunately he cannot. In the second half, he stopped trying. Taking the ball standing still. Getting caught behind the mainline. But he still has a huge role to play for Leinster and Ireland. He just needs to settle down, concentrate on his own strengths (one of which is his versatility) and find his niche. I defo don’t think Ross starts ahead of him in the next game, but he wasn’t awful. Ospreys were just really good
@jajosullivan@aol.com: 3 out of 18 for a side that has an 18 out of 18 record versus most teams is as bogey as you get!! LOL. However, they did have the hex over us 15 years ago. Especially in the finals (did they beat us 3 in a row?) I understand the point Carmine is trying to make. You don’t agree, and that’s ok. I understand that too.
Tector was by some distance Leinster’s best back. All of them (bar him) must have been practising their passing with Luke McGrath this week. I’ve never seen such loopy slow passing, not to mention forward. And where was Jacques’ defensive line with it’s pace. Very sloppy and glad to get the W
@Des Lamont: I was amazed he was taken off early. Frawley at 12 weakened the team.
The scrum battle last night proved perfectly why a yellow card must be one of the weapons at a referees disposal. Botha was being destroyed in the first 2 scrums and he decided that the only way he could survive was to start pulling it down or turning the scrum. The referee called him out after 4 penalties in a row and told the captain next time will be yellow. Low and behold, the penalties stopped. Excellent management from the referee
Frawls on a garryowen of a downward spiral
Well it’s official. The title of nastiest home crowd who boo everything which doesn’t suit their team (every ref decision and actions of the other
team’s players) which was held by the warriors fans up to now has passed to the Ospreys fans tonight.They were insufferable.
@John Ludgate: Yeah… I was thinking the same thing. Whenever Leinster were in possession, all you could hear were boost. When the first try was booed and I thought maybe the pass was forward, but it wasn’t even close. Then I realised as the match went on they were going to boo every pass. A little more positive energy is required if they are going to drag their national team out of the doldrums
Wales should call up Tipiruc , he continues to look like one of the best poaching sevens in Europe. Gatland really has destroyed welsh national rugby but his insistence not to play some of the more experienced players
Never heard so much whinging about a team that won a rugby game!
@Oran Burns: Wait till they lose 100 times worse