Six Nations team guide: Andy Farrell's Ireland
BRUISER: Ireland's Joe McCarthy looks dejected after the final whistle in the Rugby World Cup 2023 quarter final match against NZ.
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Friday's first-round fixture against France at the Stade Velodrome may be the curtain raiser to the 2024 Championship, it is also the potential title decider.
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Losing at the quarter-final stage when expectation of at least a first ever semi-final appearance was a bitter blow for players, management and supporters alike. Ireland are keen to make amends at the first opportunity.
Grand Slam, champions
3 Grand Slams – 2009, 2018, 2023
5th place - 2013
Andy Farrell (2020-present) P20 W15 L5; Win Rate: 75%
Peter O’Mahony (2019-22) P2 W2 L0; Win Rate: 100%
65 - Brian O’Driscoll (2000-14); current: 60 – Cian Healy
566 - Johnny Sexton; current 62 – Conor Murray
26 - Brian O’Driscoll (2000-14); current: 10 – Conor Murray and Jacob Stockdale
Jack Crowley – with Johnny Sexton exiting stage right, the 24-year-old Munster fly-half is set to inherit the number 10 jersey with a country’s hopes resting on his shoulders. Will Crowley rise to the challenge?
No uncapped players in the 34-man squad though Oli Jager and Sam Prendergast joined the pre-tournament training camp. Harry Byrne, Ciaran Frawley, Cian Healy, Jordan Larmour, Calvin Nash, Jacob Stockdale, Tom Stewart and Nick Timoney all return to the squad having not made the World Cup squad.
Johnny Sexton’s retirement at the end of the World Cup, alongside Keith Earls, represents the absence of two Test centurions while Ireland are missing Grand Slam-winning wing Mack Hansen, as well as fly-half Ross Byrne, hooker Rob Herring, loosehead prop Dave Kilcoyne, and utility back Jimmy O’Brien through injury.
R Baird (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), T Beirne (Munster), J Conan (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), R Kelleher (Leinster), J Loughman (Munster), J McCarthy (Leinster), P O’Mahony (Munster), T O’Toole (Ulster), A Porter (Leinster), J Ryan (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster), T Stewart (Ulster), N Timoney (Ulster), J van der Flier (Leinster).
B Aki (Connacht), H Byrne (Leinster), C Casey (Munster), J Crowley (Munster), C Frawley (Leinster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster), R Henshaw (Leinster), H Keenan (Leinster), J Larmour (Leinster), J Lowe (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), C Murray (Munster), C Nash (Munster), G Ringrose (Leinster), J Stockdale (Ulster).
O Jager (Munster), C Prendergast (Connacht), S Prendergast (Leinster).
A new beginning in so many ways with the opportunity to put the disappointment of the World Cup behind us. Nothing symbolises the new dawn more than the transfer of the No 10 shirt from Johnny Sexton to his heir apparent Jack Crowley who is set for a first-ever start in a championship game in Marseille.
The young Innishannon man couldn’t have picked a more challenging encounter with a capacity Velodrome set to get behind their French heroes. This opening encounter can decide the championship with France and Ireland a step ahead of the rest. Home advantage has proved the big difference over the last two campaigns and presents France with the initiative from the outset.
With three Dublin games that I fully expect Ireland to win, a top-two finish looks on the cards unless injury to key players in Andrew Porter, Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan intervenes. That and a more consistent showing at the set piece will be required, especially in Marseille.
A Grand Slam may be beyond Ireland but even the prospect of an opening night defeat may not prevent them from winning the championship. Anything less than a top two finish will be viewed as a disappointing campaign.
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