JUST TWO MINUTES into the World Cup quarter-final in Paris last year, the first scrum.
Ireland ploughed forward through New Zealand and came up from the set-piece looking like they were ready to celebrate. Just outside the Kiwi 22 in a central position, it would have been a gimme three points.
Wayne Barnes blew his whistle but raised his right arm. Penalty against Ireland.
The call came from the touchline around 20 metres away. With Barnes on the openside, assistant referee Christophe Ridley called in his view that Ireland loosehead Andrew Porter had driven on the angle.
Porter and Ireland were deeply frustrated and maintained post-match that Kiwi tighthead Tyrel Lomax had initiated that inward movement under pressure from Porter.
There was another penalty against Porter early in the second half with New Zealand feeding into a scrum on their own five-metre line, right in the corner. It was a big pressure position, Ireland having got back within a point on the scoreboard, but Barnes’ whistle signalled a lifting of that stress.
Again, Porter was done for boring.
The third scrum penalty came in the 66th minute, the Irish scrum pinged for wheeling. Jordie Barrett missed that long-range shot at goal but Ireland conceded a penalty off their 22-metre restart and Barrett made it 28-24, the final scoreline.
Afterwards, Ireland felt aggrieved about the scrum interpretations so the scrum battle in tonight’s meeting with the Kiwis was always going to be fascinating.
“They’ll feel pretty hard done by. I certainly do every time I get penalised,” said Lomax this week when asked to reflect on the scrums in that World Cup quarter-final.
There are a few different faces in the starting front rows this time.
Lomax is the only survivor in the Kiwis’ starting front row, with Asafo Aumua in at hooker for the injured Codie Taylor and the gigantic Tamaiti Williams preferred to Ethan de Groot at loosehead despite de Groot being available after an internal suspension for breaching team protocols.
“That’s a performance decision,” said All Blacks boss Scott Robertson of his big show of faith in Williams.
Williams came off the bench against Ireland last year along with hooker Dane Coles and tighthead Fletcher Newell, neither of whom are involved tonight.
The twice-capped George Bell, still only 22, backs up Aumua but Ireland will be wary of 140kg+ replacement tighthead Pasilio Tosi, who did notable damage off the bench against England last weekend.
Formerly a back row, Tosi brings major power in the carry, tackle, and set-piece. He has been a real find for the All Blacks.
On the other side, Dan Sheehan is missing at hooker for Ireland but Rónan Kelleher is fit to start and is regarding as a strong scrummaging hooker.
Porter is still in situ but tighthead Tadhg Furlong is another to miss out on account of his hamstring injury. That means Finlay Bealham comes into the starting XV for Ireland on the occasion of his 43rd cap.
“He [Furlong] is world-class so we see some opportunities in it, yeah,” said Robertson of that change for Ireland.
But Andy Farrell and co. have faith in Bealham’s ability to do the job tonight.
“I think was it 2023 when Tadhg was gone for the majority of the Grand Slam Six Nations and Finlay was unbelievable,” said Ireland captain Caelan Doris.
“He took his performances to another level and I think he’s stayed there pretty consistently off the bench when Tadgh’s there or starting in his absence. Yeah, we’re looking forward to seeing that from him.”
Kelleher was the bench hooker last time, so Ulster’s Rob Herring fills that slot tonight as he gets set for his first appearance of any kind since the second Test in South Africa back in July.
Cian Healy, who missed the World Cup, is the back-up loosehead and will draw within one cap of Brian O’Driscoll’s all-time Irish record if he gets on, while 26-year-old tighthead Tom O’Toole gets one of the biggest chances of his Test career so far.
O’Toole has played against the All Blacks before, coming off the bench in the first Test defeat in New Zealand in 2022, but it will surely be special on home soil.
The power of Joe McCarthy and James Ryan from the second row will be as important as ever, while Iain Henderson offers more of that as the bench lock.
It should be an intriguing contest as Ireland look to right some perceived wrongs and the Kiwis attempt to take things up a level.
“We’ve definitely got a little bit more left in us,” said Lomax.
“I thought the way the bench came on and changed the game in the scrum [last week against England] was awesome. As starters, laying a good platform for the backs and trying to assert a bit of dominance early will be key.”
Could as easily play on Senior team and not look out of place…a serious talent!
@Michael Murray: is gleeson or mcnabney just as good
@Michael Murray: a serious talent. It’s been a long time since England have a talent that I can’t stand, that’s how good he is!
@Niall Boyle: Ha!….yeah!!
@Gary Galligan: ….no….Pollock would walk straight onto any Irish Provincial side bar Leinster and would give JVDF a run for his money.
@Michael Murray: Absolutely. Could easily make a senior squad. The underage talent in the English game is frightening. Only France on a par. It’s a 2 horse race between the 2.
@Ray Ridge: ireland could have had a serious pack of usanov, walker, Smyth, spicer, corrigan, foy, Mccarthy, Murphy, which would have been very competitive v England & france
@munsterman: Not convinced by this spicer. Big man, yes, but out on his feet after 15 minutes blowing hard. If he can get in shape and work on his fitness and be more aggressive, then maybe.
@Ray Ridge: I saw him for leinster A and he was outstanding. He’s huge so he’s not going to be that agile or mobile. But in the scrum, maul and tight defence & carrying, he’s very very good. Decent passer too. I think leinster are gonna fast-track the guy
@munsterman: Well, he must have spent the past year working on his aerobic fitness. For he was panting like a dog after 15 minutes in the Under 20 championship last year.
@Ray Ridge: yea he looked lacking in conditioning then. We still missed him whenever he wasn’t on the field though. I’d imagine he’s well conditioned now though being in the academy. It’s hard to replace a 6’10, 135kg monster. Add to that a 6’5, 120kg no8 and a very very highly rated tighthead
@munsterman: who is the no 8 ur talking about? Also is niall Smyth (I assume that’s the tighthead) out for the tournament?
@scott casey: luke Murphy, started last yr when gleeson was out. I dunno how bad those 3 are injured. With a bit of luck they’ll all be back for the wc at least cos this is potentially a very talented u20 group
@Gary Galligan: First impressions are that this fella is gonna be busy. He’s very entertaining. Some generation this one coming through..
@munsterman: Really hope we get props from this years u20s that can kick on over the next few years. Casper Gabriel might be another player who might make the world cup if he gets his residency sorted. Could make for a very interesting u20 world cup campaign
@Ray Ridge: I’d put us with those two. Per budget, we’re getting the most bang. I’d say physically we’re up against it, but we’re the ones producing most full internationals from u20 imo. I’ll go look at stats…
@Michael Murray: He definitely wouldn’t. JVDF is the best in the world and is a master in that position. Pollock has had a good breakthrough season but often finds himself running sideways and holding onto the ball unnecessarily in crucial moments against average opposition. He’s a bit reckless and does the flashy stuff off the back of his teammates hard work. Brian Gleeson was similar when he played u20s, brilliant and obviously ones to watch out for but it’s an entirely different beast when you go up to professional level as Gleeson is finding out. It’s not as easy.
@scott casey: usanov is very promising. Emmett calvey too but he’s unfortunately injured aswell. And Smyth is very highly rated, went straight into the leinster academy from school which is pretty rare
@Harry O’ Callaghan: gleeson injured his shoulder with the u20s last summer and is only back a few weeks. From what I’ve seen he’s making the step up pretty easily & since he’s been back has featured in pretty much every munster 23
@munsterman: He went straight onto a senior deal as other provinces were sniffing about. Issue with that is the hype just grows. He ideally should be doing sub academy like any 18 yeat old kid, and learning how to lock a scrum. Big, big talent though. A shame he’s injured.
@Ray Ridge: Well your comment just shows that you haven’t seen Spicer since last year and are ignorantly unaware of the long term plans being taken with him. They have him in S&C now, they didn’t last year due to his size, age and joint considerations. Ireland does not produce fellas of his height and bulk so Leinster and Ireland are taking a very long term planning view with his development. He probably won’t reach peak physical condition until at least 2 years. But of course that won’t cross your mind, and you’d prefer to just throw shade at a 19 year old kid. Grow up man.
@Carmine Lorenzo: yea it’s a shame. I’ve only seen a bit of him playing in a Blackrock game last yr that was on Premier I think. He looked a big unit. I don’t think jackman coming out and saying he’ll be the new furlong will do the lad any favours, let the young fella develop away
@Carmine Lorenzo: No I haven’t seen him since last year. Can’t see everyone. Yes my comment was based on last year. Glad to hear he’s bit fitter. However, I’ll be the judge of that when and if we see him in the under 20 championships.
@scott casey: World Rugby have already decided that his residency had to commence again when he returned from Austria during COVID. I am not sure when that is but I would imagine he didn’t bother returning until school returned, which was September 2020 which make him intelligible until next years 6N.
@Ray Ridge: No, you won’t be the judge of that actually. You need to up your rugby IQ and watch more games baby.
The 6 has ten starts for Racing 92 this season and will be heading back to England in the next year or two.
Serious English pack. It’s a shame ireland are missing 3 of its biggest forwards in niall Smyth, Alan spicer and luke Murphy through injury. We’ll still have some very good forwards but might be a bit lightweight relatively for this one
@munsterman: on a 3g pitch, being lightweight might work to our advantage as long as we’re tidy in possession…
@Sea Point: yea we’re gonna have to be very slick and defensively sound. Disciplined too, any cheap pens & they’ll kick into our 22 & maul us to death
@Sea Point: And avoid scrums.
Google tells me that Kryan Bracken does have a son called Jack. He’d be Irish eligible as his auld fella was born in Dublin.
@Ciaran Kennedy: Kyran has 2 sons and this Jack is one of them. Charlie is a little older (21) and plays scrum half – also for Saracens. It would be a great way to make up for the snub the IRFU gave Kyran at the beginning of his career as Ireland was always his first choice.
Gleeson is an exceptional back row prospect, at least as high a ceiling as pollack
Could of easily been in the Scottish squad as well
Sensational player