Ireland are expected to be without star full-back Hugo Keenan for the Six Nations clash against Wales at the Aviva Stadium, leaving Andy Farrell with a selection conundrum.
Farrell has plenty of depth across his squad, but with Jimmy O'Brien and Mack Hansen sidelined through injury, the outside-back strength is significantly reduced ahead of the Six Nations.
And now he will be without Keenan, one of the first names on the team sheet week in and week out. In fact, since Farrell took over as Ireland's head coach, no player has played more for the team than the ever-reliable full-back (2916). Since February 2021, he has started 25 out of 28 Test matches.
He is reportedly expected to return in time for Round 4 against England in March, but in the meantime, let's take a look at Farrell's options.
front runner
When Keenan was taken off the pitch in last week's game against Italy, his role was replaced by fly-half Jack Crowley, with Harry Byrne slotting into the first receiver channel. This worked relatively well for the rest of the game, but it's hard to imagine Farrell removing an in-form, still-developing playmaker from the starting fly-half role.
This suggests that the versatile talent of Ciaran Frawley will fill Keenan's void against Wales. The Leinster star is tipped to have a future at fly-half, but has flourished in multiple roles at home in recent seasons, including full-back.
He has the skill and ability to easily fill that position, and joining him at full-back would be a direct replacement from the first-choice starting lineup to avoid shuffling the backline.
with a fringe
Jordan Larmour was one of just five players to wear the number 15 shirt during Farrell's tenure (Kienan, Jacob Stockdale, Mike Lawrie and Jimmy O'Brien) and was part of the team's victory over Wales. I'll take a chance.
He is considered more of a winger in the current system, but his kicking game is not up to the standards of Frawley et al., which will be a disadvantage, but he has the positional awareness to play that role. have.
Larmour was on the bench when Keenan was absent for the game against Italy, but Byrne was brought on in place of the outside-back. This could be an indication that his skillset doesn't fit what Farrell is looking for in a fullback. Or perhaps the Irish manager preferred to test Crowley in that position, as Italy posed little threat at that stage.
mixed with
Crowley would definitely be on that list, but as alluded to above, it wouldn't make much sense for him to take that role considering he's still a developing No. 10.
Hansen and O'Brien would certainly have been strong candidates had it not been for injuries, but recent injury setbacks could give them a chance to be called up.
Stockdale also has a claim, as he was one of the few players to start in the position during Farrell's tenure. He has fallen out of favor with the selectors due to a series of injuries, and bringing him into the team in the second position could be the kind of faith needed to return to top form.
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outside bet
Byrne played in the fly-half channel against Italy, but there is a good chance he will be used at full-back against Wales. Many of the skill sets required of a modern full-back are interchangeable at fly-half, and he could share some of those responsibilities with Crowley.
Calvin Nash impressed on the wing for Farrell's side, appearing occasionally as Munster's number 15 jumper. He may join that list, but again, it is unlikely that he will move on from a position where he has been successful while still new to the international scene.
Simon Zebo has revealed that Farrell told him to “be ready” after missing out on the squad, and although he is still recovering from a knee injury, given his experience he could very well be promoted to the starting 15. It wouldn't be impossible. .
James Rowe has mainly played on the wing since arriving in Ireland, but he has played as a full-back with Chiefs and Maori All Blacks, which Ireland could use. Farrell has several wing options in the squad, so accommodating Lowe's shift to fullback should be relatively easy. You'll still have to adjust the cannon boots so they don't go to waste, but this is a relatively easy workaround.
certainly not
Under former head coach Joe Schmidt, Robbie Henshaw was given the starting full-back role against England at Twickenham. The Ireland star is a great center and a great athlete, and although he had played in that position during his time at Connacht, it was painfully clear that those days were behind him.
Manager Farrell has several options at his disposal, including Garry Ringrose, Bundy Aki and Stuart McCloskey, so he may be able to handle Henshaw out of center without any problems. , it would be foolish to do so to accommodate Henshaw playing at fullback.
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