Six Nations: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell faces injury crisis and discipline woes

By Chris Collyer

Ireland‘s bid for Grand Slam glory this Six Nations will be impeded two-fold this year as Andy Farrell juggles a brace of setbacks: injuries and ill discipline.

It’s deeply unlikely that any international side would be overconfident going into the Six Nations missing their top three looseheads, Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle, but Ireland’s injury woes don’t just finish in the front.

Back five absentees include Ryan Baird and Tom Ahern, whilst in the midfield, Farrell will be missing Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw, and in the back three, an astonishing six absentees include Mack Hansen, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O’Brien, Shayne Bolton, Jordan Lamour and Hugo Keenan.

I’m expecting a call up any minute.

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Double blow

Yesterday landed a double blow for Andy Farrell. Firstly, Aki was released from camp to face two disciplinary hearings, one with the IRFU itself, and now faces a six-match ban after being found guilty of “verbally abusing and disrespecting” match officials last Saturday night as his club Connacht lost to Interpro rivals Leinster 23-34.

The centre is now banned for Connacht v Zebre and Ireland’s first three Six Nations games, including France, Italy and England.

Aki, 35, has been involved in 79% of Ireland Tests since November 2017 alongside injured team-mate Henshaw and only has five months left on his IRFU contract.

The second blow for Farrell was announced yesterday, that British & Irish Lions series winner and Ireland fullback Keenan fractured his thumb in training after having not played a game since scoring his dramatic series-winning try. No call-ups have been announced as yet.

Lessons from the past

This comes at a time when many are scrutinising Ireland’s lack of game discipline, with Ireland conceding an unusual number of penalties on the field and disrespecting the referee at an alarming rate.

Safe to say there is plenty to work on with what limited time is available, considering that Ireland’s opening game is next Thursday due to the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics.

Yet we’ve been here before.

After Ireland’s shock exit at the quarter-final stage of the 2023 World Cup and talisman Johnny Sexton retiring, the majority believed Farrell’s men would enter freefall and fail to show up for the following Six Nations.

However, Ireland went on to win the Championship after a bulldozing start away to France. This year, could we see another resurgence?

Squad age and experience

Ireland have one of the oldest squads for this tournament, with eight players either 33 or over, which is double England and France’s age profile, both sides having only four.

Ireland also only have four players under 25, whereas France have over double with 13 players and England has 11.

In rugby terms, Ireland are not an “old” team, and their current age profile shouldn’t cause immediate concern.

That said, time is running short to integrate new players ahead of next year’s World Cup.

However, last year’s British & Irish Lions squad boasted a record number of 15 Irish internationals, the most to date for the tour, with Farrell at the helm in the country that will host the 2027 World Cup.

With that kind of exposure comes a natural sluggish start to any season, but with the completion of the tour, the chance to get in some extra game annual gametime and the elation of the victory, Ireland could well draw on that experience and upset the apple cart this Six Nations.  

READ MORE: Hugo Keenan out of Six Nations opener as Ireland’s injury list continues to grow