Sidelined but still studying, Hugo Keenan should be up to speed for Six Nations

LEARNING: Leinster's Hugo Keenan. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady.

Hugo Keenan was not completely out of the Ireland picture in November. Though he’s still rehabbing from the hip surgery he had during the summer, the 29-year-old was back in camp from Monday to Thursday ahead of the South Africa game.

“They brought me back in just to keep me involved with the hope that I'll be back involved for the Six Nations,” Keenan explained at the launch of the Champions Cup.

“They're good, the coaches at that, at not just casting players aside when they're injured. Try and get you to rehab, do your fitness and training and all your bits in Irish camp.

“So that you can take on board what's been learnt in camp. Take on the lessons so that when you rock up, all going well, first week of the Six Nations, you're not there (saying) 'Okay, what did you talk about in November lads, what are all the learnings?' You're expected to get back up to speed, to be on par with what everybody else has learned from those games.

“Catching up with the different lads from different provinces and seeing them again. Rekindling those connections because that's important as well, that you don't lose those bonds that have been built up over the years.” 

The decision to bring Keenan in already looks shrewd, with Ireland’s options at fullback shrinking after injuries to Mack Hansen and Jamie Osborne. Both are expected to miss a large chunk of the Six Nations.

Hansen underwent foot surgery this week following a recurrence of the injury first picked up on the Lions tour. The Connacht back had only just made a surprise return against Australia last month, starring at fullback and scoring a hat-trick.

“I especially felt for Mack, being on the Lions tour, playing so well, probably being one of the standout back threes and backs on that tour and then picking up an injury,” said Keenan.

“I think he was a man on a mission over there. He obviously wanted to play against his home nation and had that extra bit of motivation. I think you could genuinely see that in his play.

“So for him to pick up that injury was pretty heartbreaking. But he is such a good lad and he was brilliant to me over on tour and getting me back up to speed after I was sick. To see him go so well, finally get a shot against Aussies and score that hat-trick, get man of the match was fully deserved.

“I get on very well with him. It was great to see him push on personally. I remember I met him for a few beers when he got initially ruled out of the autumn series and didn't make that initial squad and Jimmy (O’Brien) came in for him. For him to flip it around and get two great performances in was thoroughly deserved.” 

This absence is a new experience for Keenan. It’s the first time he’s been out with a long-term injury. He was at the games against Australia and South Africa, “pulling the hair out a little bit”.

From the stands he watched an aerial game that has shifted this year. With escort runners no longer permitted, there are more genuine contests in the air – a battleground Keenan believes plays to his strengths.

“I would like to think it's one of my strengths, the aerial side of the game. I think it suits the lads (Mack Hansen and Jamie Osborne) as well, and it suits an Irish back three.

“Who's been good for that is Sexto, surprisingly. He's obviously come into the Irish set-up, he was in the Lions set-up. He's taken a bit more of a focus on the kicking side of things. To maybe the average Joe, you might think that's just place kicking or kicking to the touchlines or working with the tens.

“But it's the whole kicking game as one, which is your backfield, your high balls, your contestable kicks, working with the nines, working with back threes and exits.

“He brings such a big rugby IQ into it and sees it in a different light as a 10 than as a 15, so to say. He's obviously an unbelievable player but he's a brilliant coach as well, so he's been good coming from different perspectives and adding to the group in that regard.

“He's not sitting there pretending he's the best in the backfield, catching high balls and stuff. But what he does do is he reads the game so well, he learns about the game. He's got such a good eye for trends, for technique, for everything. He's done a lot of research.” 

Keenan is set for a January return to action meaning he could be back for the second half of Leinster’s Champions Cup pool stage campaign against La Rochelle and Bayonne.

“I suppose the heartbreak of the last few years, it's hard to even say how tough it has been,” Keenan said about Leinster’s four Champions Cup final defeats in the last seven seasons.

“It's definitely felt like it's meant more to us every year. We don't want to put pressure on ourselves. We know the capabilities in the group. We know the talent amongst us.

“If we do get things right, we have the ability to challenge every year. That's the beauty of being in the squad. I don't think it changes for this year.”