Paul O’Connell makes no promises of new caps on Ireland's tour

The former captain and lineout guru O’Connell says Ireland aren’t necessarily using the three Tests, which also represent a crucial part in the inaugural Nations Championship, as an opportunity to blood players.

Paul O’Connell says they won’t “try to cap people” for the sake of it on their three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

Despite the 2027 Rugby World Cup creeping up quickly and Ireland’s ageing squad not getting any younger, Paul O’Connell says they won’t “try to cap people” for the sake of it on their three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand.

While clashes against the Wallabies and All Blacks will give Andy Farrell’s men a proper test 15 months out from the World Cup, the clash wedged in between on July 11 against Eddie Jones’s Brave Blossoms seemingly represents a golden opportunity to build the base.

But former captain and lineout guru O’Connell says Ireland aren’t necessarily using the three Tests, which also represent a crucial part in the inaugural Nations Championship, as an opportunity to blood players.

“We haven't discussed that,” O’Connell said. “I'd imagine there'll be changes next week for Japan, a few changes. After that then we'll be seeing who plays in the final game.

“We'll pick the right team for Japan. We won't try to cap people. It's never been something we've tried to do.” 

Uncapped Connacht props Billy Bohan and Sam Illo will most likely get some game time throughout the three Tests, with the former the most likely of the pair to front up against the Wallabies.

Should that occur, they won't quite get the baptism of fire coming later in the tour against the Japanese or All Blacks, with the Wallabies' front-row lacking meat and power. After all, Joe Schmidt has even had to lure 37-year-old James Slipper out of retirement.

While uncapped loose-forwards Sean Jansen and Bryn Ward could be in a shoot-out to feature against Japan in Newcastle.

Paul O’Connell says they won’t “try to cap people” for the sake of it on their three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

O’Connell made no promises any of the quartet would feature on the three-Test tour, but the Irish great said he was impressed by what he saw from the uncapped forwards and added that they “earned their crack”.

“I just like how he's (Sam) grabbed his chance this year,” O’Connell said. "I like that he knows what he's good at and he's getting after what he's good at. We had him on the Emerging (Ireland), not the last one, the previous one.

“There was no doubt about his strength and his size and his physical prowess. The rugby piece probably needed to kick on a bit. I think the last few years he's improved massively, probably training under Stuart (Lancaster).

“The way he trains has been very good for him this year. I'd say Finlay (Bealham) has been very good for him as well in terms of his development. He's been great.

“Billy Bohan has been in with us. It really impresses us in terms of how he knows his stuff. They scored the best maul try against Glasgow there, which kicked off their season around February.

“Bryn Ward has been great. When he came in with us in the Six Nations, we were really impressed with him.

“He's a real point of difference with his carry, his size. A really curious guy. A lovely bit of confidence about him. He's not shy. He watched training with Jack Conan yesterday.. He asked Jack Conan whether he watched training with him. He's really curious and wants to get better.

“We had Sean (Jansen) on Emerging with us as well. When you see Sean, you see this big bulldozer of a player. You probably don't realise how eager he is to get better and how diligent he is about getting better as well.

“He's a really curious guy and he's been great. He latches on to Cian Prendergast, who's obviously a great player, but a great trainer, a great preparer, a very diligent guy. I think Sean has learned a lot from him.

“We've spoken about him for a while. We look at him and we say, ‘Jeez, he'd be a great guy to be bringing off the bench or whatever.’ It's brilliant to have him in and he's done really well.” 

After losing their opening Test of their past two campaigns, including in the Six Nations against France, O’Connell said the group was focussed on ensuring they got out of the blocks against the Wallabies.

“We haven't started well the last two campaigns, but it's something we've historically been really good at,” O’Connell said.

“We want to start well and we want to win the next game. That's as much as we've spoken about.”