Six Nations guide – Ireland: Andy Farrell will need to cover the cracks

Brendan Gallagher predicts a testing campaign ahead for the men in green

Everything is pointing towards a tricky campaign for Andy Farrell’s Ireland although you would never write off a team with so much inherent talent and one of the most canny and experienced coaching groups in the world.

But there are unquestionably difficulties to overcome. Ireland provided the backbone of the Lions squad last summer and the Five and Six Nations championships that follow Lions tours can sometimes prove a hurdle too far both physically and mentally. You can only go to the well so often.

Then there is the feeling that both Ireland and Leinster – the two are indelibly connected – if not in decline, have stalled a little.

Issues showing

One or two cracks are beginning to appear. After two championship titles on the bounce Ireland finished third last season while in the autumn they lost at home against New Zealand and South Africa.

Meanwhile, although Leinster dug in well to win the 2025 URC title, they were found wanting in Europe. This season in the URC they have slipped to three defeats already and not really hit their groove although there is time aplenty to rectify that.

Then there is the possible knock-on effect of English referee Matthew Carley finally doing what many before had failed to do and apply the laws against Ireland, in their match against South Africa.

The result was five yellow cards including one which was upgraded to red.

Referees generally might now feel more emboldened against Ireland, their cloak of invisibility which they inherited from New Zealand has gone.

Fluent: Jamison Gibson-Park PICTURE: Alamy

Need to adapt

Will they adapt their methods, particularly at the breakdown and scrum time? You suspect they must because they will be under greater scrutiny now.

And finally they have a significant injury list to deal with, especially in the front row, although Farrell to his credit doesn’t seem overly fazed by that.

If anything it possibly eases the pressure a little and there are those who in any case would rather see Ireland experiment and build a little between World Cup cycles.

Supporters are growing weary of their side setting the world alight between World Cup tournaments and then failing, for whatever reason, at the event itself.

Player issues

Front row is unquestionably the big player issue with Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarty and now Jack Boyle all sidelined which has seen Connacht‘s uncapped 20-year old Billy Bohan promoted to the squad.

The return to fitness of Finlay Bealham has eased the situation a tad but Ireland are only another prop injury away from a real crisis. The French front row will be gunning for them in the opener on Thursday night, that’s for sure.

Elsewhere versatile back five forward Ryan Baird will be missed as will Mack Hansen who has a foot injury, hamstring victim Jimmy O’Brien and experienced centre Robbie Henshaw who picked up a knock against Bayonne while the injury woes continued when Hugo Keenan broke a thumb in training in Portugal this week.

And Bundee Aki is suspended for the first three matches after being handed a four-game ban for “verbal abuse and disrespect” towards match officials in Connacht’s loss to Leinster last weekend.

More positively Farrell should have Jamie Osborne and Tadhg Furlong available again. Win in Paris, and with three home games this season, Ireland could yet prosper but a big defeat at the Stade could herald testing times.

Player to watch: Jamison Gibson-Park

Some critics think the Leinster scrum-half beginning to decline but not me. Still the key man if Ireland are to flourish. His service and fluency is the oil that lubricates the Ireland machine.

Squad

FORWARDS: Tom Ahern (Munster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, captain), Edwin Edogbo (Munster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster) BACKS: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Robert Baloucoune (Ulster), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Tom Farrell (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Tommy O’Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)