Summer tour spot prize dangling for Ireland A squad
Munster's Fineen Wycherley is one of six players in the Ireland A squad to have been capped at Test level. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
The carrot of summer tour places is dangling in front of the Ireland A squad set to meet their England counterparts in Bristol on Sunday but head coach Mike Prendergast believes it will need a collective rather than individual effort to book seats on the plane to Georgia and Portugal.
Prendergast, the Munster attack coach, has just six days to get a cohesive tune out of Ireland’s next in line players when they audition for further advancement at Ashton Gate this weekend.
The 29-player squad captained by Leinster back-rower Max Deegan, one of six players - alongside forwards Fineen Wycherley, Oli Jager, Tom O'Toole and backs Harry Byrne and Shane Daly – who have been capped at Test level gathered at the IRFU High Performance Centre in west Dublin in Monday with defence coach and former Ireland back-row hero Sean O’Brien outlining the need to make the most of the opportunity this week’s camp and match presents.
Prendergast doubled down on that message when asked how the balance would be struck between individual ambitions and collective effectiveness against the English.
“It’s a bit of both. Collectively, we spoke about the opportunity for the player during the week to prepare himself as good as he can, both on and off the pitch, going back to connecting with people, aligning, knowing their role, knowing their job.
“And we were just talking about it there, as a staff, how well the lads have come in and put their best foot forward. So the big point from us was not to be individual on the pitch. Be a good team player, be a good team man and we'll see that through the performance.
“So if you get that right, individually, collectively, that will shine through. So the big challenge is being able to bring the individuals together, connect them, align them. We spoke about as well, the shared opportunities, so we want big input as well from the players, because there's very good experience there.
“They’re coming from different clubs, they've their own ideas as well and it's being able to bring all that together in a short space of time. but it's been working quite smoothly so far, thankfully.”
With Andy Farrell taking what is expected to be a British & Irish Lions squad heavily populated by players from these shores for this summer’s Test series with the Wallabies in Australia, the Simon Easterby-led Ireland tour to Georgia and Portugal will offer added motivation for the Ireland A players hoping to take the next step up to the Test arena.
“Well that’s the thing,” Prendergast said. “The opportunities could arrive, depending on what happens with the Lions. I’m sure we’ll have some players going, maybe a bulk of players. And that will open opportunity, potentially for players in this group or even players who might have a very strong end to the season, that aren't in this group at the moment.
“But the big thing about this week is giving them the opportunity and they have the opportunity to set themselves up to perform on Sunday.”
With interim Ireland head coach Easterby set to name his side on Thursday morning for the Six Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, Prendergast may have some reinforcements from the senior squad to boost his own selection pool for the following day’s game across the River Severn estuary in Bristol. The Ireland A head coach was asked specifically about the possibility of Ciaran Frawley joining his squad alongside existing number 10 options Harry Byrne and Cathal Forde should Easterby continue with his fly-half axis of Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley.
“We're unsure of who will be back to us. Potentially Ciaran could be back, it just depends on what's happening with the senior squad. As I said, we'll adapt to that.
“Ciaran for me, he's just a really complete footballer. A guy that plays 10, 12, 15. He's got a very good variation to his game and if he does come back, he's someone you'd be excited to work with. It was not too long ago we were seeing him winning Test rugby down in South Africa, you know.
“Obviously there’s two lads who are there at the moment and they've been picked on merit as well, and do you know what, to have that depth, we were having conversations maybe a year ago about what was the depth in Irish rugby at 10. Now you're looking at three, and there’s a few more coming behind as well. I always say competition is great and it’s good healthy competition that’s there, you know.”
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