ANDY FARRELL WILL confirm some big selection calls on Thursday afternoon, with the Ireland coach forced into making at least two changes to his side for Saturday’s second Test against South Africa in Durban.
Hooker Dan Sheehan and scrum-half Craig Casey have been ruled out of the clash at Kings Park Stadium, with Rónan Kelleher and Conor Murray the favourites to come into the starting XV in their places.
Experienced Ulster man Rob Herring is another option at hooker and Ireland like his set-piece accuracy but the powerful Kelleher has been second-in-line behind Sheehan for some time.
Murray was good off the bench last weekend in Loftus Versfeld and provides a high level of Test rugby nous. Connacht’s Caolin Blade is set to provide back-up to Murray from the Irish bench, but Farrell has been pondering other changes to his starting XV.
Andrew Porter suffered a bad cut to his hand in the first Test but is expected to continue at loosehead prop, while Tadhg Furlong is likely to be at tighthead again this weekend.
James Ryan made a strong impact off the bench in Pretoria after replacing Joe McCarthy and Farrell might be tempted to bring the more experienced Leinster man into his starting XV.
Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier were among the best Irish performers in the first Test and are in line to continue in the back row. While captain Peter O’Mahony wasn’t at his most influential at Loftus Versfield and Ryan Baird made a notable impact off the bench, it would still be a big call from Farrell to replace his skipper in the starting XV.
Jack Crowley should partner Murray in the halfbacks but Farrell has had to make another tough call in the midfield this week.
Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw started the first Test, with the latter forced off at half time due to a head injury, with Garry Ringrose impressive at outside centre in the second half.
As such, Ringrose put his hand up for a start this weekend alongside either Aki or Henshaw. Aki is thought to be among those carrying knocks from the first Test, while Henshaw has had to come through the return-to-play protocols so their availability could decide the selection.
Jamie Osborne picked up a groin issue on his Ireland debut at fullback but has since returned to training and is in line to continue in the number 15 shirt in the second Test if fit, while James Lowe and Calvin Nash could hold onto the wing spots.
The versatile Jimmy O’Brien offers another option in all back three positions and might bring spark but Farrell may favour a fair degree of continuity in his starting XV.
It could be that the Irish bench gives a few fresh faces an opportunity, with scope for Farrell to go from a 5/3 split to a 6/2.
Tom O’Toole has been training at loosehead prop on this tour and would be a powerful option off the bench, while tighthead Oli Jager would love a chance to earn his second cap. Cian Healy and Finlay Bealham were the replacement props last weekend and have generally been favoured behind Porter and Furlong.
If Farrell is to go 6/2, the likes of Ulster man Nick Timoney and Connacht back row Cian Prendergast could come into the mix.
Ireland are due to name their matchday 23 at 2pm Irish time tomorrow.
Ryan at 4; McCarthy at 5 Beirne at 6 might be a good selection option for Ireland again a strong SA pack.
@Fergus O’Shea: feels like this should be the pack as it adds another line out option but Faz will never go for it. Gats played Beirne at 6 in all the lions tests against SA so something has to be said for him starting at 6.
POM as captain does rule this out as a realistic possibility though.
@Bazz Kavanagh: I’m pretty sure he played Lawes at 6 against SA
@Fergus O’Shea: McCarthy is a penalty machine. Ryan the better player
Jimmy O’Brien to right wing please. Ringrose in at 13 and maybe move Henshaw to 12 if Aki is faaaacked. Would love to see Jager at some point, maybe off the bench although Bealham would be hard done by. Think we need to freshen up the backrow too, would be nice to see Baird or Izzy from the off at 6.
I know a lot of people are calling for his head but having O’ Mahony on the starting team seems to have a lot of value for this team under Farrell. Baird is a good, high energy and athletic replacement, but he doesn’t seem to have the dog in him they mention when talking about O’ Mahony. That fire is important in approaching and starting the game to set the tone.
Surely with the disruption to the backline, they’ll stay with the 5:3 split. Would be tough on Blade if we had to bring him on the wing if there was other injuries.
It seems the biggest concern are the sub props. Furlong and Healy are preferred, but how much trust is there really in Healy if they bring Porter back on after the cut on the hand. Loughman was impressive for Munster but is at home. Maybe he’s not considered international standard. Is O’ Toole really gonna be asked to come in as a loosehead considering what their bomb squad scrum did in the last few mins? Think it’ll be Healy again, but Porter will be asked to do 70 mins at least
@james joyce: I didn’t see any dog of any shape or form in O’Mahony last weekend. None whatsoever. He looked wrecked and didn’t impose himself at all. Baird doesn’t exactly hold back in how he goes about his business either. He’s a lot more physical and athletic than O’Mahony is at this stage in his career.
@james joyce: when you say O’Mahony and dog / fire, do you mean like the kind of dog who rolls over twice the way he did twice to de Allende ?
@Andrew Hurley: Not exonerating these missed tackles but De Allende shrugged off many tacklers all day and no one seems to be singling out those would-be tacklers or Lowe who missed a few but also played very well in other ways.
1.Porter 2.Kelleher 3.Furlong 4.Beirne 5.Ryan 6.Baird 7.JVDF 8.Doris 9.Murray 10.Crowley 11.Lowe 12.Aki 13.Ringrose 14.Nash 15.Osborne 16.Herring 17.Healy 18.Bealham 19.McCarthy 20.PO’M 21.Blade 22.Frawley 23.Henshaw
5 changes to the starting 15 which I think is needed to freshen things up a bit. I thought O’Mahony was anonymous last weekend and got bumped by De Allende twice. A flanker and captain shouldn’t be getting dominated like that by a centre. He offered nothing imo and it’s evident that he is no longer good enough. I thought McCarthy was good but still very inexperienced. Ryan looks big and fit and obviously has a lot more experience. Henshaw has been brilliant and has regained his form but I think he looks tired and Ringrose’ defence has been missing from the backline.
@Harry O’ Callaghan: I’d agree with Ryan over McCarthy call although it’s probably only a call of who gets 50 mins and who gets 30?
@Harry O’ Callaghan: one of the key statements commentators repeatedly make is “Ringrose makes the tackle”. His decision making in defence is exceptional
@Harry O’Callaghan: I’m afraid that if he starts Baird at 6 we will not get a performance out of him as he has proven in his career for Ireland and Leinster in big matches that he flatters to deceive. He is a far better impact player off the bench and his qualities seem to suit that role better later in games. He has all the tools of a modern 6 and fantastic attributes but he doesn’t seem to be able to put it together on the pitch against the best sides from the start.