Rory Keane reports from Port Elizabeth
HAVING EARNED HIS first Test cap in the dying minutes of a frantic clash against the Springboks at Ellis Park, it’s safe to say a lot of Irish players have had easier debuts than Tiernan O’Halloran.
The Connacht fullback entered the fray in the 75th minute after Jared Payne had pulled up with cramp as Damian de Allende finally broke the Irish resolve with his late, match-winning try.
It proved a chaotic introduction to international rugby for the 25-year-old, who may very well earn his first Test start in this Saturday’s series decider at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
“It was tough enough,” said O’Halloran. “With 25 minutes to go we were up 19-3 and maybe at that stage you were thinking ‘I might get on here’. Then the way it started going, they got back into and we got another try and the thought comes in, ‘okay, now we’re going to go’.
“You’re up and down thinking ‘will I come on?’ That’s the way rugby is and I’ve been on the bench plenty of times before so you know how it works. It’s all about the ebb and flow of the games, ready to go and never called upon.
“So it was just that sort of game. When they got those tries I knew it was going to come down to a couple of minutes at the end and so I was just ready to go before they got the last try anyway. Then when the last try went in I was thinking it’s going to be a different type of game now if we’re going to win we need to score, so I was ready to have a go.
“Unfortunately I didn’t get too much ball but that’s the way it is. I was delighted to get on the pitch and get a cap and hopefully if I’m involved we’ll work from there.”
Despite a stellar season for Pat Lam’s side, O’Halloran was originally omitted from Joe Schmidt’s squad for this tour, along with fellow wide men Matt Healy and Niyi Adeolokun.
Schmidt informed O’Halloran and Healy that they would be on standby with the pair going on to rip Leinster to shreds in the Pro12 final at Murrayfield as Leinster struggled to cope with the pace and invention of their Irish counterparts.
“The week before the final in Connacht he [Joe] rang me and a couple of other lads to let us know his reasons for going with the squad that he did and also to say we are on stand-by.
“He said it’s up to us whether we want to book holidays, but be ready to change plans, which I was.
“I was ready to bring my boots on holidays and would have had it all ready. It didn’t make much of a difference, but I got the call then to come into camp in Dublin.”
Did his performance in the Pro12 final, where he smoked Rob Kearney for Connacht’s opening try, do anything to persuade Ireland’s head coach to reconsider this squad selection?
“I had been asked a couple of times in the weeks previous about my Irish chances, but I was focusing on what I could do,” the Clifden man replied.
“I was disappointed at missing out on the squad, yes, but it was such a massive opportunity for our province at Connacht that I didn’t want to distract myself, I wanted to keep going hard.
“It was the same with Matt as well, he was in the same boat and he got the call saying he was on stand-by so we kept doing what we were doing and thankfully it worked for us in the final and we got the win.”
Slowly but surely O’Halloran is adapting to life in the Schmidt system. The work-rate and attention to detail required of this current Ireland squad has been well-documented at this stage. It’s a demanding environment but is one that he is relishing.
“Apart from all the detail that you learn coming in, it’s that intensity in everything you do.
“Not just on the pitch, but in meetings you have to really, really concentrate on everything that’s going on because there is a lot of information. But I suppose the training sessions have been at such a high level of intensity that sometimes at your province it’s not at that level either.
“Every skill, every pass, has to be right on the money and I suppose the weekend; being on pitchside at the bench, seeing some of the hits coming in and the intensity the game is being played at… obviously, I was only in it for three minutes but those three minutes you’re still blowing a bit.
“You can feel that it’s that step further than provincial level. So, I suppose that’s the biggest difference I’ve felt so far.”
Interesting. If he’s being rolled out in front of the media it probably means they’re going with Payne 13 & him 15.
Yeah, seems that way. Marshall at 12, with Olding at 23. I’d prefer to keep Payne at 15, since he was so good in the first two tests. But that’s not to say I’m disappointed. Really looking forward to seeing what O’Halloran can do with a full test.
Payne is great at 15, but O’Halloran probably deserves a shot. And we all know what Payne offers at both 13 and 15. With Henshaw out he’s probably needed at 13 to keep the defensive system together.
Yea, i prefer Payne at 13. We can’t be risking letting the SA pack through to Payne wasted as a last defender! Payne stops the attack lines at source. Esp beside Henshaw or Marshall. TOH can run a ball from the 22 playing onto Healy, Earls or Trimble but Payne can’t do that. One thing the boks cannot do is run Connacht style.
Payne made, if I recall correctly, one real defensive tackle in the first test, which shows how good the defense was. With Henshaw out, Payne is the key to that defense. We saw how shoddy the defense was during the Argentina game. I’ve no problem with him moving back to 13.i just loved the attacking threat he showed at 15.
Would have been surprised if Joe had started Marshall at 13. He has not played at this level at 13 before and even though he plays 13 at Ulster he attacks very much like a second five eighth. Payne at 13 is the most secure option. If the game is tight whatever position Joe brings Olding at could unlock the game?
Ohalloran15 Trimble14 earls11 Marshall12 Payne13 Jackson 10 Murray 9 heaslip 8 Ruddock 7 stander 6 toner 5 Henderson 4 furlong 3 best 2 McGrath 1 I know he probably start Ross but this the team I think could win this one
Can’t complain at all with that team selection.
Ruddock over Jordi?
Ruddock and Jordi is tough because they both put in spectacular shifts. I reckon Jordi is fresher so he’ll be in. Ross is also rested so he’ll start. Furlong provides great impact off the bench, whereas Ross provides little to no impact. Just scrum solidity.
Rascal your a devil for it :-)
I don’t think there is any doubt that Payne will play 13 if he is fit. TOH will be at full back,Marshall at 12 ,Earls 11 and the rest of the backs same as last time. Joe has a bit of a conundrum in the pack. Furlong was really impressive at tight head and I would keep him there.However the coach likes Ross so you never know. Henderson and Toner will be the SRs and possibly CJ, Heaslip and Ruddock in the back row. Joe likes Murphy but I but I believe that the latter can bring speed and tackling ability to a tiring pack,as a replacement.The same goes for Dillane,Cronin,Bealham and Kilcoyne.I have a feeling Joe Schmidt will have a structured ,set piece game in mind.
It is looking like Payne is going to be ruled out which is a big blow to our chances. TOH to fullback with Olding at 12 and Marshall 13?
Highly worrying Martin, fingers crossed he’s fit.
Where did you hear that?
It’s on the independent and balls.ie at least and has been for a while so I’m surprised nothing has been said on here or rte last time I checked. That’s probably the only option for the backline if true