THE RECENT EVIDENCE suggests that this might not be a big question in Andy Farrell’s mind ahead of the first Test against the Springboks next weekend.
Craig Casey did start a game for Ireland against Italy in this year’s Six Nations, his fourth Test start, but it was Conor Murray who provided the back-up to Jamison Gibson-Park in the other four matches.
Murray wasn’t heavily used, playing only 10 minutes against each of France, Wales, and Scotland, as well as 30 minutes versus England when Gibson-Park had to move to the wing, but it reinforced what has been the longstanding pecking order.
At last year’s World Cup, Murray started the pool game against Tonga and was on the bench behind Gibson-Park in Ireland’s other four games. Casey’s tournament amounted to 25 minutes in that Tonga clash.
When Gibson-Park was injured at the start of last year’s Six Nations, it was Murray who started the big games, with Casey getting the number nine shirt only for the Italy fixture.
So even though Munster have preferred Casey to Murray as their starting scrum-half for most of this season, Ireland boss Farrell has continued to view the scrum-half depth chart differently.
It should be said that Murray has still played an influential role for Munster, often coming on for the final quarter of games. He started five matches for the province this season, including the impressive wins against the Lions and Bulls at altitude in South Africa. Murray also started last season’s URC final win over the Stormers in Cape Town.
Gibson-Park is missing for this tour of South Africa due to the hamstring injury he suffered in a brutal, questionable clearout during Leinster’s URC semi-final defeat to the Bulls, with Connacht man Caolin Blade drafted in as the third scrum-half for the trip.
30-year-old Blade has two Ireland caps to his name, both off the bench, so he is coming from a long way back in terms of fighting for Test minutes in South Africa. The Monivea man will obviously be making sure he’s ready if called upon, but it’s likely that Murray and Casey will be the two matchday scrum-halves.
Farrell has always respected Murray’s ability to bring a calm edge to proceedings for Ireland. The 35-year-old comes off his IRFU national contract this summer but the fact that Murray’s new Munster deal for next season has been topped up by the union shows that Farrell still sees him as part of the Ireland picture for 2024/25.
We don’t need to run through Murray’s CV again here but you don’t achieve as much as he has in his career without lots of class and an impressive degree of durability.
The Limerick man has had dips in form like any other player but the negative reviews of his performances are often overdone or unfair. As Farrell has said a few times, lots of people get sick of seeing players at the top level over an extended period and want “new fresh young rookies” to get a chance instead.
Murray took renewed online abuse in the wake of Ireland’s defeat to England in the Six Nations and Farrell had to defend him once again.
Given the scale of the pressure Ireland will face against the Springboks in Pretoria on 6 July, it would be no surprise if Murray is in the number nine shirt for Farrell’s side. The Ireland head coach has seen Murray in that kind of environment many times before.
The same isn’t true of Casey, who is surely desperate just to get the chance to show he can survive and thrive in such circumstances. Three of his four starts for Ireland have been against Italy, with the other against the US.
Casey has come off the bench against France and Australia but generally, his involvements have come in less high-profile Ireland games.
The Limerick man’s passing is a joy to watch when he’s at his best, speeding from ruck to ruck and cleanly delivering zippy passes. He showed excellent decision-making in Munster’s recent URC win over Ulster but then had to deal with the frustration of scrappy ball in the knock-out stages.
Casey is almost exactly 10 years younger than Murray, so time is on his side but he’s not a kid at the age of 25. He’s an ambitious player who wants to be starting games for his country as well as his province.
Casey is obviously going to be around longer into the future than Murray but that’s no guarantee of selection right now. Ireland are going all-out for victory in both Tests against the Springboks.
They always want to keep developing as a team but playing against a feral South African side in Pretoria is not the best time to switch from the usual focus of picking the team Farrell feels is best placed to earn the win.
Whatever way Farrell decides to use the Munster scrum-halves, it’s likely that Ireland will need both Murray and Casey to deliver a major impact in the matchday 23 if they’re to make history in South Africa.
Start casey in both tests , he will give Ireland quick ball and move that south African pack around ..Murray however has big match temperament and needs to be there to close it out in the 2nd half .so big roles for both
@Stuart: Agreed, but really if the pack are going backwards it will be a hard day regardless of who’s playing. Ye have a load of scrum halves, mostly around the same standard, Faf started against Wales, I imagine it will be the same? who’s on the bench? Cobus is injured? (I should be using google). Really like Nohamba from 9 but he’s not in the squad.
@Thesaltyurchin: no doubt faf will start both tests . I understand reinach is back from injury so is probably between him and Grant Williams for the no. 2 spot for both tests. Morne van den burg is the 4th and probably will get a shot against Portugal. Agree on nohambe, pity he didn’t make the swaud however I actually prefer him at 10 with van den burg at 9 for the lions.
@Stuart: He’s a lively player too (van den burg). Nohambe still very green at 10. Are SA a little worried about 10 moving forward? ;)
@Thesaltyurchin: watch out for this kid ..can’t get a game for the stormers because of libbok at 10 and willemse at 15 favoured by Dobson but rassie really likes him…he’s got a great boot too…Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.. he plays 10 or 15 ..he’s a good one. Also Siya masuka at 10 at the sharks looks good…there are some 10s coming through but not like Ireland who seem to breed class 10′s
Start with Murray in the first test, bring Casey on for the last 30..Then start Casey in the 2nd test. Great opportunity to play one of the big guys away from home. Need to start getting experience into the younger lads who’ll be involved next WC. Would love to see young Cormac getting 10/15 mins at some stage, he’s been flying the last couple of months from back row for Ulster but assuming it’s probably in the autumn they’ll get him on the pitch.
Blade for me with casey on the bench
@J M: do you think AF will start Blade?
@Patrick O’Sullivan: (and with Casey on the bench?)… Ridiculous eh, but here we go, the donkeys are about to bleet.
@Patrick O’Sullivan: why not? he picked him in the squad… Casey might not be best choice defensively…
@Patrick O’Sullivan: Nah id say he’ll start murray with casey on bench for both games. Unfortunately I don’t think there will be a deviation from the “always play your best team” mindset
Interesting as to what AF will do. There is a train of thought that JGP, arguably Ireland’s best player, but that Ireland as a team play better without him. Take the 6N match against Italy. Remember Italy had a remarkable campaign lost to England by a penalty in the last few minutes, drew with France and beat both Scotland and Wales. Ireland started that match without JGP and Bundee, the game was over at half time. Casey and Crowley lit up the Aviva with attacking play, quick recycle, off loading behind the gain line and running in tries from anywhere. Comparing Italy to South Africa .. I know but still looking forward to see how the young guns get on.
@Cormac McCarthy: If you genuinely think that a sample size of one game (vs Italy) is reason enough to conclude Ireland are better without JGP, then you’re living in cloud cuckoo land. I haven’t heard anyone mention this “train of thought” either prior to now. Furthermore, there is a train of thought that Casey wasn’t actually very good against Italy. He put in quite a mixed performance.
@Carmine Lorenzo: yes a sample size of one game is insufficient, that is why I am excited to see it again When JGP plays 9 he is the play maker (a lot like John Cooney). What was exciting against Italy was to see Crowley as play maker. Crowley was on the URC team of the season is URC next-gen player of the season and URC players player of the year. Indeed, on the day, there were those who thought Casey made mistakes, they also highlighted mistakes in Crowley’s game. Playing 9 and 10 see a lot more of the ball therefore a lot more opportunities for those hoping for mistakes. One commentator on 42 faulted Crowley for not scoring sooner. These analysts completely ignore how others struggled to beat the Italians. Enough negativity, they are wearing green, support our boys in South Africa.
Neither please. Give Blade a start in one of the tests.
@Carmine Lorenzo: You cant mean that outside of a reaction to interprovincial hype (unless you’ve not been watching any rugby), John Cooney is definitely more of an argument to have
@Thesaltyurchin: Oh I’d 100% love if Cooney was given a shot I’m in total agreement with you there. To my original point, I said I’d like to see Blade in one of the tests. I’d probably start Casey in the other. Murray off the bench in both. Would like to see some sort of experimentation or something new on the tour. For what it’s worth though, I think he’ll start Casey in the first and maybe Murray in the second. Best Blade can hope for is 20 mins in one of the games.
@Carmine Lorenzo: Furthermore I know Blade has had a mixed bag of a season, but I’d like to see him in a more cohesive system like Ireland’s as opposed to Connacht’s who have struggled badly at times.
@Carmine Lorenzo: The something new is Casey’s development. After this literal test series perhaps time to shake Connor’s hand and find a third scrum-half to join JGP and Casey as the regular test 9′s. Now is not the time for further experimentation. Who do people think is best placed to replace Connor? Doak??
Probs the most like Murray, but obvs younger and faster, it’s mad to think he’s only 22!! How long he seems to have been showing up for Ulster, think he’s potentially a wc athlete, who knows if its 9 or 10, Devine at Connacht looks the real deal, Foley too.
Blade, I was a huge fan until recently. Now I notice he seems to play for himself rather than the team. Watched him a lot and maybe it’s playing with a weaker outfit that drives him to go alone but won’t wash with Faz
I despair if its Murray. Dad’s army again and fine margins when we lose the quarter in Austalia.
@James Murphy: Really that’s all you have? “Dad’s army”? No analysis at all of an international and Lion’s player and his suitability for this game. Now I despair.
@John Ludgate: You need to be told that he won’t make the next world cup? If the world cup was tomorrow then ye I’d go with him, but what’s the bloody point. We’ve just had too much heart ache in world cups and keep making the same mistakes.
AF will go Murray at loftus with Casey on bench . If Ireland win he’ll keep Murray as starter , if they lose badly he’ll give Casey the start the game after. Blade will be on tackle bag duty the whole tour
What’s the game plan? Murray suits a more containing game, Casey a more attacking game. They’ll play the scrum half they think will best suit their game plan. Blades if one of the two above gets injured. Against SA in SA with our best full-back not available. What’s the best option?!
@jajosullivan@aol.com: He’ll play safe to start, Murray first, see how the forwards go.
I’d go for Cooney – oops he’s not there!!