Hugo Keenan eager to earn place back in Ireland side for French face-off
Hugo Keenan had the weekend off as Ireland defeated Wales in the Six Nations. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Hugo Keenan is ready to go about reclaiming his place in Simon Easterby’s Ireland starting team for the upcoming Six Nations showdown against France after watching the defeat of Wales from the Principality Stadium stands.
The Ireland interim coach opted to give a Six Nations debut to Jamie Osborne in the No.15 jersey and, with Jack Crowley providing cover off the bench at ten, centre and in the back field, that left Keenan with the weekend off.
“I had good chats with Goody [Andrew Goodman] and Simon about it. I had been getting positive feedback from them. But it’s a competitive squad, they want to build depth and Jamie had been playing well recently and he was deserving of the shot. He’s always taken his opportunities when they have been given to him.
“He really stepped up in South Africa [last summer] and he has been training well. I had good conversations with the coaches. Obviously there is disappointment, you want to be involved in the games such as that, you always want to be playing in as many matches, especially at that level for Ireland whenever they do come around.”
Keenan has been an integral part of the Ireland team since making his debut against Italy late in 2020. Already on 44 caps, he was the only confirmed option at full-back for a number of seasons but he has missed games this last 18 months.
Injuries have been part of that, so was his detour to Sevens duties for last summer’s Olympic Games in Paris. All told, he has missed four of the last nine Ireland games and six of the 14 played since the 2023 World Cup in France.
The Dubliner was in Cardiff last weekend with the squad as it claimed the Triple Crown.
“It’s always tough watching on from the sideline because you can’t affect the game yourself but also the nature of the match, how tight it was: I’m never the best spectator, always getting a bit stressed and worked up during it.
“But it was brilliant that the lads pulled through. They showed good character and it was great to get the win and keep the momentum going.”
The win in Wales leaves Ireland three points clear at the top of the Six Nations table but such is the nature of this competition that they will likely have to complete the Grand Slam in order to claim a third Championship title on the trot.
France’s eleven-try destruction of Italy in Rome showed just how much of a threat they will pose when they turn up in Dublin next Saturday week for a contest that is likely to decide which of them takes the silverware.
“Yeah, we’re going in to win every game,” said Keenan. “Not that we’re looking at the five out of five or the whole Six Nations. We’re just looking at controlling what’s in front of us, how we can influence and decide on matters, and leaving it in our hands.
“That’s the mindset we’ll be going in against France and just fully focusing on a big performance to get a win.”
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