WE’RE MORE THAN three months down the line from events in Auckland, but the determination that Andy Farrell’s Ireland feel to bounce back from that loss to the All Blacks is fresh.
They were far from happy with their performance that night in Eden Park, with an error-strewn Irish showing meaning they came up short on a 40-21 scoreline.
One of Farrell’s main lessons was that Ireland weren’t fit enough, so there has been a big emphasis on conditioning in pre-season ahead of this new campaign. Ireland will have been critical of their lack of technical accuracy too.
Farrell hopes to see more athletic pop from his players in the weeks ahead, beginning on Friday night against Argentina, while he will also expect a few returning players to energise the team.
The majority of the side that ended last season for Ireland are back for the first game of the new campaign.
However, number eight Jack Conan and outside centre Garry Ringrose are absent due to injury, so there will definitely be changes to Ireland’s starting XV. This first Farrell selection of the season – the team will be officially announced on Wednesday – promises to be interesting.
Hugo Keenan seems likely to continue at fullback, as does Robert Baloucoune on the right wing, but the fit-again Mack Hansen could come into the team for the first time since last November.
Jimmy O’Brien started on the left wing against New Zealand in July, with Jamie Osborne and Jacob Stockdale having been there the previous two weekends, yet Hansen will surely be asked to make an immediate impact now that his foot issues are behind him.
With Ringrose sidelined, Farrell has an important call to make at outside centre, where Osborne, Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are the most obvious options.
Robbie Henshaw has had a good start to the season. Andrew Conan / INPHO
Andrew Conan / INPHO / INPHO
Henshaw has generally been the next in line behind Ringrose, and the Leinster man has started this season in sharp form.
24-year-old Osborne has largely started in the back three for Ireland so far, although he wore the number 13 shirt against Georgia in the summer of 2025 and has played lots of rugby in midfield for Leinster.
Aki is at his best at inside centre, but has featured in the other midfield slot for province and country.
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Stuart McCloskey looks set to continue as a pivotal figure at number 12, with Henshaw, Osborne or Aki alongside him.
There remains some doubt about Sam Prendergast at out-half for the Argentina game, although Ireland’s official line is that there is optimism among Farrell and his coaching staff about his recovery from a wrist injury.
They would certainly like to see Prendergast build on his good start to the season with Leinster, although Connacht’s Ciarán Frawley would obviously love a chance to start at out-half in such an important Test.
Frawley has had a lively start to life as Connacht’s main man at number 10.
With Jack Crowley’s uncertain recovery from a vascular issue in his leg ongoing, it might be a good thing for Ireland if Frawley gets a chance to start another Test at out-half. His outing there against Japan in July didn’t go as smoothly as he would have hoped, but Frawley has form on his side now.
Jamison Gibson-Park’s recent return from a groin injury is a big positive for Farrell, with Craig Casey and Nathan Doak continuing to back up the highly influential scrum-half.
There will be excitement among the Irish coaches to get loosehead prop Andrew Porter back up and running in Test rugby. He is another man who hasn’t played for Ireland since last November, meaning he will be brimming with excitement for this window.
Andrew Porter returns to Ireland camp. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Porter has been punchy in his initial outings this season and will be determined to make a major impact at scrum time. His last outing for Ireland was in that scrum dismantling by the Springboks last November.
“Ports is an excellent scrummager, but as a prop forward it’s like having an extra back row around the field as well. That speed of movement piece as a prop forward, he’s got a real point of difference there,” says Ireland forwards coach Paul O’Connell.
Dan Sheehan continues as Ireland captain in Caelan Doris’ ongoing absence, and he should be at hooker, albeit with the now realistic possibility of moving to the back row during games.
Ireland were relieved that Tadhg Furlong was cleared of any foul play after his citing in the wake of Leinster’s recent URC win over Munster, meaning he’s in line to drive on at tighthead prop, where Thomas Clarkson and Sam Illo are the understudies.
Farrell has his frontline lock trio all available in Joe McCarthy, James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne. The Leinster duo of McCarthy and Ryan are in good early-season form, with McCarthy looking set to make a particularly big impact.
Beirne started the July loss to New Zealand at blindside flanker and remains a real option there, although the number six shirt is being hotly contested.
One reason for that is the return of Ryan Baird, who had grabbed hold of the jersey last November before he was injured in the South Africa game. Baird hasn’t played for Ireland since.
“I know a lot of people point to his lineout stuff, but his kick chase has been excellent in the last few weeks,” says O’Connell of Baird.
“His physicality on both sides of the ball has been excellent. And he brings real leadership to a lot of the set-piece stuff as well. He’s a good man to put a plan in place and coach it and deliver it.”
Baird is back, but Connacht captain Cian Prendergast has started this season superbly, so there’s an interesting call for Ireland to make at blindside.
Cian Prendergast has had a strong start to the season. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
“It’s very tricky because we have players, even guys that aren’t here, that can play six and second row; [Cormac] Izuchukwu, Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne is obviously here and plays six as well and plays it really well,” said O’Connell.
“It’s not hard to select, actually. It’s a great place because you have lots of options there. But it’s competitive, and I think competition makes guys train well, prepare well and play well.
“I think Cian Prendergast has been playing brilliantly as well in the last year or so. Competition has been good for all those guys.”
Josh van der Flier is the incumbent at openside flanker, having well and truly earned that status over a long period, but there’s no doubt that Ulster’s Nick Timoney applied more pressure than ever last season.
With Conan and Doris both missing at number eight, it appears that Connacht’s Sean Jansen is set for a big opportunity after he made an eye-catching impression on the July tour to Australia and New Zealand.
27-year-old Jansen is a collision-winner and his dynamism could be important. Timoney and the uncapped James McNabney are options at the back of the scrum, while Cian Prendergast has played there in the past too.
McNabney, who is perhaps most at home on the blindside flank, is an exciting proposition, yet this looks like Jansen’s time to shine.
Ireland used 5/3 bench splits for their three Nations Championship games in July, although Farrell has gone for 6/2 splits in the past.
Possible Ireland team: Keenan; Baloucoune, Henshaw, McCloskey, Hansen; Prendergast/Frawley, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan/Beirne; Baird, van der Flier, Jansen.
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Farrell's calls at numbers 6 and 13 most interesting for Ireland
WE’RE MORE THAN three months down the line from events in Auckland, but the determination that Andy Farrell’s Ireland feel to bounce back from that loss to the All Blacks is fresh.
They were far from happy with their performance that night in Eden Park, with an error-strewn Irish showing meaning they came up short on a 40-21 scoreline.
One of Farrell’s main lessons was that Ireland weren’t fit enough, so there has been a big emphasis on conditioning in pre-season ahead of this new campaign. Ireland will have been critical of their lack of technical accuracy too.
Farrell hopes to see more athletic pop from his players in the weeks ahead, beginning on Friday night against Argentina, while he will also expect a few returning players to energise the team.
The majority of the side that ended last season for Ireland are back for the first game of the new campaign.
However, number eight Jack Conan and outside centre Garry Ringrose are absent due to injury, so there will definitely be changes to Ireland’s starting XV. This first Farrell selection of the season – the team will be officially announced on Wednesday – promises to be interesting.
Hugo Keenan seems likely to continue at fullback, as does Robert Baloucoune on the right wing, but the fit-again Mack Hansen could come into the team for the first time since last November.
Jimmy O’Brien started on the left wing against New Zealand in July, with Jamie Osborne and Jacob Stockdale having been there the previous two weekends, yet Hansen will surely be asked to make an immediate impact now that his foot issues are behind him.
With Ringrose sidelined, Farrell has an important call to make at outside centre, where Osborne, Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are the most obvious options.
Henshaw has generally been the next in line behind Ringrose, and the Leinster man has started this season in sharp form.
24-year-old Osborne has largely started in the back three for Ireland so far, although he wore the number 13 shirt against Georgia in the summer of 2025 and has played lots of rugby in midfield for Leinster.
Aki is at his best at inside centre, but has featured in the other midfield slot for province and country.
Stuart McCloskey looks set to continue as a pivotal figure at number 12, with Henshaw, Osborne or Aki alongside him.
There remains some doubt about Sam Prendergast at out-half for the Argentina game, although Ireland’s official line is that there is optimism among Farrell and his coaching staff about his recovery from a wrist injury.
They would certainly like to see Prendergast build on his good start to the season with Leinster, although Connacht’s Ciarán Frawley would obviously love a chance to start at out-half in such an important Test.
Frawley has had a lively start to life as Connacht’s main man at number 10.
With Jack Crowley’s uncertain recovery from a vascular issue in his leg ongoing, it might be a good thing for Ireland if Frawley gets a chance to start another Test at out-half. His outing there against Japan in July didn’t go as smoothly as he would have hoped, but Frawley has form on his side now.
Jamison Gibson-Park’s recent return from a groin injury is a big positive for Farrell, with Craig Casey and Nathan Doak continuing to back up the highly influential scrum-half.
There will be excitement among the Irish coaches to get loosehead prop Andrew Porter back up and running in Test rugby. He is another man who hasn’t played for Ireland since last November, meaning he will be brimming with excitement for this window.
Porter has been punchy in his initial outings this season and will be determined to make a major impact at scrum time. His last outing for Ireland was in that scrum dismantling by the Springboks last November.
“Ports is an excellent scrummager, but as a prop forward it’s like having an extra back row around the field as well. That speed of movement piece as a prop forward, he’s got a real point of difference there,” says Ireland forwards coach Paul O’Connell.
Dan Sheehan continues as Ireland captain in Caelan Doris’ ongoing absence, and he should be at hooker, albeit with the now realistic possibility of moving to the back row during games.
Ireland were relieved that Tadhg Furlong was cleared of any foul play after his citing in the wake of Leinster’s recent URC win over Munster, meaning he’s in line to drive on at tighthead prop, where Thomas Clarkson and Sam Illo are the understudies.
Farrell has his frontline lock trio all available in Joe McCarthy, James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne. The Leinster duo of McCarthy and Ryan are in good early-season form, with McCarthy looking set to make a particularly big impact.
Beirne started the July loss to New Zealand at blindside flanker and remains a real option there, although the number six shirt is being hotly contested.
One reason for that is the return of Ryan Baird, who had grabbed hold of the jersey last November before he was injured in the South Africa game. Baird hasn’t played for Ireland since.
“I know a lot of people point to his lineout stuff, but his kick chase has been excellent in the last few weeks,” says O’Connell of Baird.
“His physicality on both sides of the ball has been excellent. And he brings real leadership to a lot of the set-piece stuff as well. He’s a good man to put a plan in place and coach it and deliver it.”
Baird is back, but Connacht captain Cian Prendergast has started this season superbly, so there’s an interesting call for Ireland to make at blindside.
“It’s very tricky because we have players, even guys that aren’t here, that can play six and second row; [Cormac] Izuchukwu, Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne is obviously here and plays six as well and plays it really well,” said O’Connell.
“It’s not hard to select, actually. It’s a great place because you have lots of options there. But it’s competitive, and I think competition makes guys train well, prepare well and play well.
“I think Cian Prendergast has been playing brilliantly as well in the last year or so. Competition has been good for all those guys.”
Josh van der Flier is the incumbent at openside flanker, having well and truly earned that status over a long period, but there’s no doubt that Ulster’s Nick Timoney applied more pressure than ever last season.
With Conan and Doris both missing at number eight, it appears that Connacht’s Sean Jansen is set for a big opportunity after he made an eye-catching impression on the July tour to Australia and New Zealand.
27-year-old Jansen is a collision-winner and his dynamism could be important. Timoney and the uncapped James McNabney are options at the back of the scrum, while Cian Prendergast has played there in the past too.
McNabney, who is perhaps most at home on the blindside flank, is an exciting proposition, yet this looks like Jansen’s time to shine.
Ireland used 5/3 bench splits for their three Nations Championship games in July, although Farrell has gone for 6/2 splits in the past.
Possible Ireland team: Keenan; Baloucoune, Henshaw, McCloskey, Hansen; Prendergast/Frawley, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan/Beirne; Baird, van der Flier, Jansen.
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Argentina decisions Ireland Nations Championship Selection