'There's an exciting look to the panel' - Andy Farrell returns with his tried and tested Ireland squad
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire.
After a summer of adventure and fresh blood, Ireland’s squad make-up has reverted to the status quo for next month’s four Test matches as Andy Farrell returns alongside his tried and tested on-field lieutenants.
There is sound reasoning behind every one of the head coach’s 34 selections, including the 16 fit and available Irishmen who helped Farrell secure a first British & Irish Lions series win in a dozen years who have been restored to the national camp, initially for the rematch with New Zealand at Chicago’s Soldier Field on November 1.
Japan, seven days later, and then Australia and world champions and newly-minted Rugby Championship winners South Africa follow on successive Saturdays after that with events in Sydney on December 3 another key date for the Irish management with the pool draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Captain Caelan Doris also returns after the shoulder injury in May that forced him onto the sofa for the Lions Tour rather than a leading role, as do Test veterans Iain Henderson and Robbie Henshaw, who were also sidelined during the summer.
World rankings are paramount for that with top pool seedings going to the leading four at the end of this forthcoming Test window. So if Ireland are to retain their number three spot, or at least not drop out of the top four alongside the Springboks, All Blacks and French, a strong November against their Southern Hemisphere opponents is the number one priority.
The here and now is all-important, as it will be next February for the Guinness Six Nations and the following summer at the inaugural Rugby Nations Championship, after which there will be perhaps just 11 Tests – in the November 2026 window, the 2027 Six Nations and pre-tournament warm-ups, before Ireland make their next attempt at breaching their glass ceiling and progressing to a first World Cup semi-final.
Yet with an ageing squad, with eight of the players named on Wednesday set to be at least 35 by the next World Cup, would it not have been beneficial to hand opportunities sooner rather than later to less experienced players.
Chances will come this November, not least against second-tier Japan as the leading lights are presumably given the weekend off following their exertions at Solider Field seven days earlier. And on the same day, Ireland A will face Spain in the suburbs of Madrid at Leganes, further broadening the experience for fringe players.
Farrell will be taking wing Shayne Bolton, capped for the first time against the Portuguese, and the uncapped Munster forward duo of Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson as cover for the Chicago trip and that is to be applauded.
Yet the presence of just one uncapped player, Leinster loosehead prop Paddy McCarthy, and only two players, lock/flanker Tom Ahern and wing Tommy O’Brien, of the nine handed Test debuts during the summer matches in Georgia and Portugal is a surprise.
“There's an exciting look to the panel and there's an opportunity for the more experienced players and for those who made their debuts on the Summer Tour to Georgia and Portugal,” Farrell said on Wednesday.
“The coaching team are looking forward to seeing all of the players take their opportunity over the coming weeks.
There is an enforced opening at full-back given the absence due to a hip injury of Hugo Keenan with fellow Lions tourist Jamie Osborne, a late call-up this summer from the Ireland squad, looking in pole position to get another crack in the number 15 jersey after appearing there on the South Africa tour of 2024.
Yet the disappointment being felt around all four provincial dressing rooms this weekend will be palpable after hopes were raised with recognition during the summer and/or strong starts to URC campaigns in recent weeks but have now been dashed.
Thomas Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster) – captain, Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Paddy McCarthy (Leinster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).
Bundee Aki (Connacht), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Tommy O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).
Shayne Bolton (Connacht), Edwin Edogbo (Munster), Brian Gleeson (Munster)
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