Six Nations Preview: Ireland
Form: WWWWW
Fixtures: v Wales, @France, v Italy, @England, v Scotland
Ireland Player of the Tournament: Tadhg Beirne
One to Watch: Mack Hansen
Prediction: Winners
Preview:
Ireland head into the Six Nations as the neglected favourites. Andy Farrell’s side are on an 8 game win streak including beating the All Blacks in the Autumn Internationals. The Irish are probably happy to be freed of the favourite tag and will look to go about their campaign quietly and let the rugby do the talking. Ireland are also one of those teams that have 3 home games this season, crucially their last game is against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road) which could be a key Championship, Triple Crown or Grand Slam decider where any and every edge matters. Nonetheless, two of Ireland’s toughest wins will have to come away from home if they have the ambition to be in contention for any of the above accolades, with France and England both away.
Andy Farrell has not surprised many with his Ireland squad. The former England defence coach has selected a very sound squad with just two uncapped players + developmental player Cian Prendergast among the 37-man squad. Whilst the core group of experienced players are all named, there are also 10 players with fewer than 10 caps who are continuing their blooding in the green jersey. Whilst players like O’Toole (2) and Treadwell (3) are unlikely to make the matchday 23, Coombes (2), Sheehan (2) and Baird (6) will be striving to add to their caps during the campaign. In the backs, in-form Ulster duo Hume and Baloucoune will also be chomping at the bit to get themselves included in the starting lineup, though Ringrose, Larmour and Conway are the more likely candidates.
Despite a number of budding stars looking to push the core group, this campaign is still going to be focused around the stalwarts of the last half-decade. Sexton will captain the side and if Ireland are to have the success they expect from their campaign, the 10 will likely be the key figure. The now ‘veteran’ midfield duo of Henshaw and Ringrose are also likely to play a vital role both in attack and defence for the fortunes of the Irish, with James Hume’s internal competition pushing both to play at an even higher level.
Ireland’s most recent success has been built off the back of their defence and their attacking ruck speed. The velocity of Ireland’s attack makes it extremely difficult for defences to set and stifle Ireland’s attack. The Irish ruck speed in 2021, especially against the All Blacks, was highly impressive and laid the foundation to their attacking platform. Farrell’s side will be looking to emulate that speed because when they can shift the point of attack so quickly, they are so tough to stop. Their defence will go hunting again and they’ll look to pressure teams in order to defend for the least amount of time possible and earn the biggest result - the ball back - in the least amount of time. To do this, Ireland can rely on their industrious forward pack, with the speed of operation that Kelleher, Beirne and Van der Flier provide, embodying the mobility of this pack. Whilst the likes of Porter, Furlong and Conan provide the stability and power game that allows Sexton to stretch opposition defences.
Squad Depth (assuming all players available):
Porter / Healy / Kilcoyne
Kelleher / Sheehan / Herring
Furlong / Bealham / O’Toole
Ryan / Henderson
Beirne / Baird / Treadwell
Doris / O’Mahony
Van Der Flier / Timoney
Conan / Coombes
Murray / Gibson-Park / Casey
Sexton / Carbery / Carty
Conway / Earls / Hansen
Henshaw / Aki
Ringrose / Hume
Larmour / Baloucoune
Keenan / Lowry