Murray Kinsella reports from Chicago
THE PRESENCE OF just three Irish sports writers, a travelling photographer and one local television crew at Ireland’s press conference in their team hotel in Chicago yesterday might support arguments that Saturday’s fixture against Italy isn’t of the utmost importance.
Indeed, the fact that Ireland and Italy have both left some of their frontline players at home for this trip might also suggest that those who argue that November Tests can amount to little more than ‘friendlies’ have some grounds for believing as much.
But to focus on those who are missing, as well as the obvious relative lack of interest in the game compared to Ireland’s trip here in 2016, would be to ignore the opportunity for players from both nations to make a statement less than a year out from the World Cup.
And while the likes of Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw and Iain Henderson have remained at home in Ireland, Joe Schmidt’s travelling squad still contains heavyweights such as Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner and Bundee Aki.
The mixture of proven key men with some of Ireland’s lesser-experienced players should make for a worthwhile contest on Saturday at Soldier Field.
“I guess this is a really important game for us for a number of reasons but there were certain guys that we felt like didn’t need to travel,” said Ireland assistant coach Simon Easterby yesterday in Chicago.
“Some guys don’t react particularly well to long travel and then you’ve got to go back and train fully next week hopefully for Argentina.
“So there are a number of factors around the selection process but Tadhg and Dev were two players that played a big part in the game here two seasons ago [against the All Blacks]. They’ve played a big part in a lot of our success over the last couple of seasons.
“So having the spine of some really important depth in terms of experience in some positions was really crucial.
“Then for others, it’s a really big opportunity for the likes of Luke [McGrath] and John Cooney to get the chance to step up and put their hand up for the next few months.”
The halfbacks will be one of the areas of most interest this weekend, with Joey Carbery likely to steer the ship from out-half and Ross Byrne set for his debut off the bench.
McGrath and Cooney, meanwhile, will have opportunities at scrum-half with Conor Murray missing and Kieran Marmion remaining in Ireland.
Given Murray and Sexton’s usual levels of influence for Ireland, this week will be a valuable experience for Carbery, Byrne, Cooney and McGrath in terms of leading the week’s preparation and influencing Saturday’s game against Italy.
With regular captain Rory Best absent and vice-captains Sexton and Peter O’Mahony in Ireland, this trip also gives Schmidt and his coaching team an opportunity to develop the depth of their leadership group too.
Rhys Ruddock has been appointed captain for the week and was a relatively easy choice, having led Ireland before.
“Partly because he’s done it before, partly because we have real confidence in his leadership and he’s another guy, a quality individual, that guys will look to and will respond to,” said Easterby.
“He led really well for us in USA and Japan in 2017 and he’s definitely a guy we see a lot of leadership qualities in.”
The captaincy and the fact that Ruddock hasn’t played for Ireland since November 2017 will ensure his eagerness and energy, and there are stories of motivation across Ireland’s 26-man squad.
Among them is that of Tadhg Beirne, who won his first two Ireland caps in Australia in June and has settled in impressively at Munster.
The Kildare man will hope for a prolonged opportunity to underline his quality to Schmidt against Italy, in turn pushing himself further into contention for the Argentina and All Blacks Tests to come.
“He hits good lines, he’s a good footballer and he understands the game,” said Easterby of Beirne.
“He’s a bloody tough guy as well and difficult to get off the ball but he’s also brought another element to his game – lineout calling is something he’s started to do with Munster and it’s great to see they’ve given him that opportunity to do.
“Is he getting better? I’d say definitely and it helps when he’s working with guys he potentially will play with in international rugby.
“Hopefully, that transition is easier for him. He did well in the summer with limited time off the bench but he’s certainly one that has got better this season and hopefully will continue to do so.”
Ireland also have two uncapped players in Chicago in Ross Byrne and Will Addison, both of whom will be eager for their first Test-level exposure as the World Cup looms ever closer.
“Ross came with us to Australia and unfortunately didn’t get the opportunity to get a cap,” said Easterby of Byrne.
“He’s been really consistent for Leinster when he gets opportunities and I think he’s working in a good environment behind a world-class operator there in Johnny.
“He’s shown a great deal of maturity over the last couple of seasons when he’s had plenty of rugby for Leinster at certain times and we feel like he’s deserving of that opportunity to step up to the next level.”
26-year-old Addison, meanwhile, is a good bet for Ireland’s World Cup squad given his ability to play across the backline.
Given his impressive early form for Ulster after a summer move from Sale Sharks and his pedigree, Addison is certainly one to watch in Ireland colours too.
“He’s a good guy who has settled in really well to Ulster and performed really well in multiple positions,” said Easterby. ”That’s probably a factor that holds him in good stead in that he can play in a number of positions across the backline.
“Looking towards the World Cup, that’s vital to have players that can play in and not drop the standard of the quality of that position just because they’re covering a few.”
Originally published at 06.30
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Cmon the cats!!! The cream always rises
Great great win fair play to management made the changes when required.
TJ just fantastic.
As a KK man I didn’t see that happening. That soft 21m goal put a shine on the score. The young lads in KK a really after cutting their teeth in the league. It’s a joy to watch these 2 teams playing each other. Pure hurling.
@Jason Pierce: No bullshit and players thinking they are prima donnas deserving this that and the other under Cody.
Hurling skills exceptionally well imparted and your name or club mean nothing it’s all about the end goal All Ireland medals In Kilkenny. No sulking no county boards run by old dinosaurs and county secretary’s picking teams.
In short hats off to Cody and his players magnificent ambassadors for a simple game – players die with their boots on in other counties they want you to tie their laces
Tipp didn’t play at all in second half.
Rumours of Kilkenny’s demise greatly exaggerated
Still need a full back Padraig Walsh playing full back like a wing back, caught bad the last two games for two goals.
Unfair on him as he’s a class wing back.
Looking forward to a good battle here. I think Tipp will shade it with stronger panel but it is at Nowlan Park .
@Finnster: :)
C’mon Tipp!!!
That’s the young lads bedded in nicely, Cody rebuilding what could be a very good team
Plenty comments bout Kilkenny being a 1 man team relying on TJ but wot bout tipp Jason Forde got 2-12 & not a word bout it…..
@Ray Power: Ssssssh Ray sure if some folk can’t see a past that their better off, we all know Tipp would be fine without J Forde same as Cork without P Horgan Galway without Joe Waterford without P o Mahoney I could go on but yah know yourself lad tis all KKs fault.
@Dae Monicus: dats a fact
@Ray Power: An sure here’s another one lad KK are a one manager team! 20 national titles in twenty years with many different groups of players, like him or not that speaks for itself.
The Tipp bench should have a big say in the result.Tipp Abu
Great camogie coverage there. Don’t miss a beat.
Kilkenny relying on frees again, but in fairness to them they win an incredible amount if them and have done all league.
@James Doyle: really ? That all you got ?
Not a great game, KK would be lost without TJ Reid he is the glue keeping it together throughout the league . Also some playacting from both sides to get frees.
@Finnster: ya there fair reliant on tj both sides missing a few but without Reid kilkenny pretty average
@Back pass: Jason forde scored 2 12 of Tipp’s tally, would u not think that there screwed without him!???
@Back pass: Yeah, an average young team, beating a seasoned tipp team. Pretty average league champions.
@Finnster: lost all right…another piece of silverware though…Tipp were beaten all over in the second half. Crying the cats won again ?
@Finnster: and without Jason Forde Tipp brutal not up for the fight for a National title. Forde 2.12 only man that stood up. Tipp full back line big problem area. Fix quick or dry year again.
@Aidan Maher: in all fairness Finnster talks through his are. 18 from Forde and Kilkenny are a one man team.
What are tipp at? Ryan has lost the plot. We barely beat Limerick with the same tactic of high balls into the t-rex forward line. If they were in Africa at the height of the Ebola outbreak they still wouldn’t have caught any thing. Well done TJ Reid and your 14 apostles.
Hope Tipp stuff kk
Now it’s getting lively . Why can’t Tipp put Kilkenny to the sword ? On paper Tipp are by far a better team
@Finnster: there was never a game won on paper
@Finnster: because they are heartless.they are not called one in a row for nothing.
@Finnster: its called balls
I’ll take that Good game, fair play to Tipp tis early days but their a serious outfit who will I reckon be one side in the final later in the year, some good performances from KK time to crack open the suds.
Well done Kilkenny but the long grass awaits
Neither team imposing themselves,but still think Tipp will prevail
@Michael Sage: completely wrong there my friend no full back line and big questions now heading into the summer
Come on Tipp