Japan challenge key to Farrell's quest for depth a year out from World Cup
Ciarán Frawley, right, and Craig Casey during the Ireland Rugby captain's run at McDonald Jones Stadium. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
If you want to know why Andy Farrell is casting the net wide for Saturday’s second Nations Championship fixture, look no further than the comments made by his high performance boss, David Humphreys, earlier in the week.
“Look, the quarter-final hoodoo, it's almost been a burden on Irish rugby, hasn't it?” Humphreys said towards the end of a media briefing in Sydney earlier this week.
Before Humphreys could continue, one of his colleagues intervened, saying sarcastically: “It’s your fault, David.”
“That's why I've kind of probably blocked it out for a long time,” Humphreys, the former Irish out-half, who pulled on the Ireland jersey on 72 occasions and featured in two World Cups, said.
It’s a little more than a year until next year’s World Cup in Australia and the clock is very much ticking for Farrell’s preparations.
While next year’s Six Nations will of course be important, there’s only another 13 Tests for Farrell to get his house in order before D-Day arrives.
That’s not long, which is probably a good thing because of Ireland’s ageing side, but it is also why exposing the next generation of players is of vital importance because at any moment, injury could strike.
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Just ask former coach Joe Schmidt, whose Irish side in 2015 suffered a spate of injuries ahead of their quarter-final against Argentina and never really were in the hunt for the knockout match.
As it would have it, Felipe Contepomi’s Pumas could well face Farrell’s men in another quarter-final next year.
If that doesn’t, then thorns in the backside like the All Blacks in 2023 can deliver masterclasses to stop a dream dead in its tracks.
History has shown that there’s no exact science around nations that go on runs deep into the knockout stages of World Cup teams.
Rassie Erasmus only joined the Springboks less than 18 months out from the 2019 World Cup. They’re now going for a three-peat.
Michael Cheika was catapulted into the Wallabies head coaching role less than 12 months out from the 2015 campaign and took the nation to the final.
Even in 2023, the All Blacks were struggling in mid-2022, having lost at home to Ireland for the first time, before a coaching tweak got them back on track.
But Humphreys believes more than anything, having proven quality to turn on at any one point in time is paramount.
“One of the concerns coming into this [tour] was we had a number of our key players who've stayed at home through injury,” Humphreys said.
“But that's given us the opportunity then to expand the depth of the squad, give young players the opportunity to come and train, and for Andy and the coaching team to look and see which of those players are going to be good enough to play an important role, because we all know by now and the World Cup, the squad will change. There will be some injuries.
“But the secret for us particularly, to be competitive, is to make sure we have that depth.
“The only way we can get confirmation of that depth is by giving them exposure at URC and EPCR but then bringing them in here and seeing how they're competing with their peers. And then it's been a very positive three weeks so far.
“I think Andy's very pleased with how those young players have come in and he talks about them being themselves and the personalities they bring. So, [that is] really good, and in terms of looking forward then to 12 months, the three weeks here, because we're going to be in Australia, it's given us good preparation.
“We've had a good look around. We'll obviously do things a little bit differently next year but on the whole, I think we're very pleased with where we are. Very positive.
“Even last weekend, being able to show that character and fight and determination when we were under serious pressure against a very good Australian team to find a way to win. That's what's going to get you past a quarter-final as well as the basics of the game.”
Humphreys and Farrell are certainly singing from the same hymn sheet.
At Farrell’s Thursday team announcement ahead of their clash with Japan, Farrell was reminded of the looming World Cup when he made a swarm of changes from the one that snuck home against the Wallabies.
Asked whether this weekend’s fixture against the world No.12 Japanese meant more than just another match this close to a World Cup, Farrell certainly bought into the need for the selected players, including new faces Sean Jansen, Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward, to impress.
“Exactly, that's why I said at the start you'll pick it apart with the team that we've got,” Farrell said, “I suppose you're doing it now. When you get time to reflect on the team itself there's four firsts, but there's also opportunities for lads to have another crack and prove to everyone that they're here to stay.”
That certainly extends to playmaker Ciaran Frawley. But it’s also a golden opportunity for the new Connacht props Bohan and Illo, who will come off the bench and have already had the focus put on them by Eddie Jones, who engaged in a bit of mental warfare on Thursday.
“That’s why we bring these lads on tour, to find out about them, to see how it gives them a lift, not just for their debuts but hopefully for competition next week and for the full year that’s ahead of us before the Rugby World Cup,” Farrell said.
Nor are Japan easybeats either. Their 27-10 demolition over Italy showed that last week.
And while the Newcastle stands will largely be empty on Saturday, there’s a lot more on the line, especially for the players, than first meets the eye in their Nations Championship fixture against the Brave Blossoms, which is wedged between matches against the Wallabies and All Blacks.
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