'It's exciting, isn't it?': John Fogarty backs Ireland's youngsters to take chance against Japan

EXCITED: Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty says he’s confident the next generation of props will stand up if given the opportunity this weekend against Japan. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady.

Ireland’s front-row stocks might be running near empty, but scrum coach John Fogarty says he’s confident the next generation of props will stand up if given the opportunity this weekend against Japan.

After Jeremy Loughman’s sickening concussion last weekend in the win over the Wallabies in Sydney, Andy Farrell is preparing to give opportunities to some of his next cabs off the rank to take on Eddie Jones’s Brave Blossoms in Newcastle on Saturday.

Twenty-year-old Connacht loose-head prop Billy Bohan is poised to come in for Loughman, while his provincial teammate Sam Illo, 25, is another who could get an opportunity if Farrell decides to wrap Tadhg Furlong in cotton wool ahead of their looming clash with the All Blacks.

Should Bohan indeed be capped, it will continue his incredible breakout season having only debuted for Connacht last December.

If inexperience was an issue, Fogarty – the experienced scrum coach, who played one Test for Ireland in 2010 – certainly wasn’t showing it as the affable and larger-than-life assistant warmed the room on a cold winter’s day in the Harbour City with his demeanour and smile.

“There's a reason they're here,” Fogarty said. “Both Billy and Sam have performed well throughout the season. They've put their hands up and we're seeing that form in training.

“It's been brilliant. It's been exactly what we'd wanted for them. The learnings are huge and to be around the other more experienced props and be around Andy [Farrell], Paul [O’Connell], Goody [Andrew Goodman], Johnny [Sexton], Simon [Easterby], and get reviewed and understand what it's going to take to become an international player, we're seeing that and I'm sure they're feeling that throughout the week.

“So, it's been brilliant. It's exciting, isn't it?”

If Bohan had any doubts about his place in the squad, the fact Farrell didn’t flinch by calling up another player in the squad after Loughman’s injury should have put that to bed.

Ireland’s brains trust also had a fair indication of the loose-head prop’s potential, having invited him into camp during the Six Nations.

That proactive move appears to be already bearing fruit ahead of a likely debut against Japan.

Asked whether he had seen any differences to the Bohan who rocked up to Irish camp after just a handful of matches for Connacht in February to the one who finished the season as Stuart Lancaster’s regular main man, Fogarty pointed to a more assured young man who was “curious” and constantly wanting to learn.

“I think he had more game time under his belt and he had a certain confidence,” said Fogarty.

“When we bring guys in, a lot of the time we're bringing them in to expose them to the level of training. And we want to see them go back and kick on.

“We want to see them go back and use any little bits that they've taken and put it in their game and be consistent. And he has done that. And he's found a bit of consistency in what he's doing around scrum and certainly around the game. Size-wise, he's just about perfect.

“It's really exciting, but he's got a lot to learn and he understands that. He's certainly someone that we're very excited about. We'll see how it goes.” With Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy amongst the props on the sidelines, Fogarty said the opportunity to develop their depth was a positive 15 months out from the World Cup down under.

“It is what it is, isn't it? It creates an opportunity to widen the depth,” he said.

“It gives us an opportunity to have a proper look and expose players. That's what we want to do as we move towards a World Cup.

“We want to make sure that we're in a good place and we have depth because players fall over. We saw that this year with Andrew, Paddy and Jack [Aungier]. It's given the opportunity for lads to come in.

“There's always a challenge in Test Rugby.

“The players are under pressure because of the nature of International Rugby and Test Rugby.

“To see the guys that have come in adapt and change and improve is unbelievably pleasing. I thought Tom O'Toole, through a Six Nations, a tight-head that we're asking to play loosehead and hadn't much time in the saddle. For him to adapt and figure things out as he moved towards a Scottish match, he did a great job.

“He went back to Ulster and played the majority of his game as a tighthead. Once again, he's in as a loosehead. To adapt, knowing that he's under pressure, it's brilliant to see.

“It gives us real confidence in that side of the scrum.” While most would think a clash against Japan in Australia would be a walk in the park, the Brave Blossoms shocked Italy by winning 27-10 in Tokyo.

They also have a building tight-five, led by locks Harry Hockings and Warner Dearns, but they also have a reasonable front-row, including Suntory’s Shuhei Takeuchi.

As well as being coached by former hooker Jones, South African Neal Hatley, who joined the Australian during his time coaching England and the Wallabies, is also the scrum coach.

“It's not easy to knock over Italy,” Fogarty said. Was it 27-10? It's a good score. At scrum time, they're always unbelievably organised.

“They're really well coached. Japan are always very compact, very organised, quick to hit and always get to a really good height.

“So, if there's little inaccuracies with your timing, you'll get exposed. So, we're making sure we're preparing properly for what's going to be a tough game.”