Ireland Selection Shake-Up: The 23 We Want To See Face Japan
Ireland Selection Shake-Up: The 23 We Want To See Face Japan
Ireland needs a response after its Chicago defeat. Here’s the balanced XV we’d like Andy Farrell to field against Japan as key players chase form.
Far from the American Dream that Andy Farrell and his team would’ve been chasing, last weekend’s Chicago Odyssey proved to be a rather chastening performance for Ireland.
Clearly undercooked, blunt in attack and unable to live with the All Blacks in the final 20 minutes, the performance will have given Farrell plenty to think about this week.
Set to face Japan at the Aviva Stadium, Andy Farrell is facing the scenario where he may well need to back experienced players to get them up to speed ahead of what will be a challenging fortnight of action.
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Coming into this window, questions were asked about the team’s readiness to face the All Blacks, given their distinct lack of game time.
Heading into the Chicago test, the Ireland starting pack had an accumulated 763 minutes of URC action.
Across the back line, it was a similar case, and in truth, this lack of readiness bore fruit against an out-of-sorts All Blacks side, which struggled for the opening 60 minutes.
While there understandably is a lack of concern in the Irish Rugby public about this November, Ireland cannot be entirely swayed from preparing for the future.
Taking this into account, we have looked into forming a team that provides much-needed game time to senior figures, while offering opportunities to players who deserve a chance.
In truth, it would’ve been great to see more in-form players rewarded with a call-up.
Sticking with those who are in the squad, this is the team we would like to see face Eddie Jones’ Japan side on Saturday.
1. Paddy McCarthy
McCarthy had minimal opportunities to make an impact in Chicago, but the younger McCarthy brother is in the squad for a reason; Farrell clearly rates him, and understandably so.
Early indications suggest that he possesses the right physical and mental attributes to challenge Andrew Porter in time. Therefore, a clash against a technically very good, but not ultra-physical Japanese side, would be a great first start for him.
2. Dan Sheehan
When fully raring, Sheehan is the best hooker in the world. Bar none.
He needs to get up to speed ahead of clashes against the Wallabies and Springboks. Going four weeks in a row is tough, but he will get a break after November.
3. Thomas Clarkson
Always a solid performer for both province and country, the 25-year-old tighthead offers more carrying prowess than Finlay Bealham at this stage of his career.
Now is the time to get game time into him against a pack that will test him technically.
4. Thomas Ahern
Making his long-overdue run out with a team that has plenty of front-line players, Ahern earns his third cap in the second row.
Blessed with physical gifts unlike many other players in Irish Rugby, the 6-foot-10 and 120kg powerhouse brings tremendous pace and a nasty edge to the Irish pack.
5. James Ryan
Ryan is another stalwart who needs to get some minutes into the legs.
In Australia, he looked to be getting back to his very best form before a nasty injury.
Still just 29 years old, Ryan is key to Ireland as the team builds toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
6. Ryan Baird
One of the many players who had a strong opening 60 minutes, Baird continues his role on the blindside.
One gets a feeling that long-term, he will face stiff competition from Ahern and the injured Cormac Izuchukwu for this position.
One thing he could do is become the Irish line-out leader. If he tidies up that area, he has a distinct advantage over his challengers.
7. Nick Timoney
Ireland needs some cover behind the ever-consistent Josh van der Flier.
In time, Munster’s Ruadhán Quinn has the potential to be that player, but he is not in this squad.
Timoney is a consistent performer for Ulster and brings a massive work rate, power in the carry and physicality at the breakdown to the side.
8. Caelan Doris ©
The captain returns to start. His first carry against the All Blacks sent out a message that he is on his way back.
While Jack Conan is a phenomenal player with a huge engine, Doris is a physical freak and is key to Ireland’s power game.
9. Craig Casey
Ireland’s captain in the summer deserves a start alongside his provincial teammate.
In our opinion, there is little to choose between him and Gibson-Park; thus, we would like to see Casey start this week and ideally against the Wallabies to set up a selection shootout for the Springbok match.
His service is immaculate, and his running game adds an edge to the Irish attack.
10. Jack Crowley
Make no mistake, Crowley was very good in the opening 55 or 60 minutes against the All Blacks.
Ireland needs to double down and hand him the reins for the rest of the campaign for the sake of the team’s flow.
In Chicago, there were glimpses of what he can bring to the No. 10 shirt.
Ireland needs to gel him and the Leinster-heavy back line into a unit; his physicality and big-game mentality can unlock a new age Irish attack.
11. Jacob Stockdale
More than deserving of a hit out, Stockdale is the form left winger in Irish Rugby at the moment.
His pace is still elite, his ability to compete in the air is very good and he offers Ireland a real threat on the edge with his ability to beat people one on one.
While James Lowe still is a clever and physical rugby player, his lack of top-end pace and consistent jamming in on defense is costing Ireland at the moment.
12. Ciaran Frawley
Perhaps controversial, but with Stuart McCloskey out this week, Ireland rolls out a dual playmaking axis of Crowley and Frawley.
Whatever your feelings about the battle between Crowley and Prendergast, you can’t help but feel for Frawley.
When in form, he is a silky smooth player and could offer Ireland an ability to play in a multitude of ways.
His kicking and distribution game with Crowley would give Ireland a two-headed monster off midfield attacks.
13. Tom Farrell
Irish Rugby’s in-form 13 of the past two seasons gets his long-overdue first test cap.
While Ringrose has done great things for Ireland, he lacks that attacking spark that made him a special player.
Farrell would instantly offer Ireland a player who can see space, is a physical runner and crucially would force the previously untouchable Ringrose into some much-needed competition.
In time, Connacht’s Hugh Gavin and Ulster’s Jude Postlethwaite and James Hume should enter the mix.
14. Tommy O’Brien
Denied any real opportunities to get into the game, O’Brien’s best moment came with a crunching hit that had the Soldier Field fans out of their seats.
Combining with Stockdale for the fastest wing combination of the Andy Farrell era, O’Brien needs to be back throughout November.
Ideally, Ireland will have a three-player shootout between O’Brien, Calvin Nash and Mack Hansen when they are all fit.
15. Jimmy O’Brien
O'Brien is another player who has been unlucky over the past two seasons.
Playing a really solid game in the quarterfinal loss to the All Blacks, O’Brien looked destined for a long Irish career as a Swiss Army knife who covers the back three and center positions.
Since then, it hasn’t really clicked, but we are backing him for a big game here.
Replacements
16. Gus McCarthy
A toss-up between Ronan Kelleher and McCarthy has seen us back the young option, given it is unlikely he will feature for the rest of November if everyone is fit.
Should he put in a big shift, then perhaps he could push Kelleher?
Given his immense ceiling, McCarthy could be a starting option, but we think Sheehan needs more game time.
17. Jack Boyle
Although Andrew Porter didn’t have his best game in Chicago, he has proven time and again his ability to get up to speed.
Ireland needs to keep blooding front row players, and Boyle will be chomping at the bit, having been overtaken by McCarthy.
The Leinster loosehead also faces stiff competition from Munster’s Michael Milne, who has been in cracking form so far this season.
18. Tadhg Furlong
Similar to Porter, we back Furlong to get up to speed. However, he has missed plenty of time in recent seasons, so getting a solid 25 minutes under his belt will be beneficial.
19. Tadhg Beirne
Working under the proviso that he is not suspended for his rather head-scratching red card, Beirne could start, but he proved against Leinster and for the Lions that he is always ready for a big test.
20. Cian Prendergast
Predergast is our under-the-radar openside, who could upset the presumed shootout between Baird and Izuchukwu.
Connacht’s captain is a real glue-type player who does everything to a high standard.
Farrell clearly rates him, as he is consistently selected.
We put him on the bench as cover for Baird and Doris, depending on how the match plays out.
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
Behind a pack that didn’t really get going, Gibson-Park looked good in Chicago.
We have opted for provincial combinations here, with Gibson-Park set to work alongside Prendergast and guide the youngster along, given he looks short on confidence at the moment.
22. Sam Prendergast
In truth, could Prendergast’s elevation have been handled better? You would have to say on balance, yes, he could’ve spent two seasons as first choice at Leinster, then been promoted.
Yet, here we are.
Making the most of his time in the shirt, we would like to see Prendergast get 20 minutes with Crowley shifting to 12 or 15, not because we think that is where Crowley should play, but because we want him to get a full 80 under his belt.
23. Jamie Osborne
Completing our side, we can absolutely see a world where Osborne starts (in fact, we expect it).
However, now feels like the perfect opportunity for him to get some game time at 12 in replacement of Frawley in the 60th minute.
Failing that, he could, of course, shift to 15 again, but we really believe he should be Ireland’s 12 going forward to the World Cup (albeit Stuart McCloskey was superb in Chicago).
Looking Ahead To Rugby World Cup 2027
Building on this exercise, here is a team we believe could be viable for the 2027 World Cup.
Ireland clearly needs to refresh in some key positions, and we have gone with young options who should be key contributors from the Six Nations onward.
1. Andrew Porter
Holding off his four younger challengers in McCarthy, Boyle and Milne to start, but play 45 minutes, rather than 75.
2. Dan Sheehan
Clear cut, he will still be at the peak of his powers.
3. Tadhg Furlong
One final hit out for Ireland’s greatest tighthead.
4. Joe McCarthy
Central to Ireland’s power game, his absence was felt in Chicago.
5. Tadhg Beirne
Similar to the other Tadhg, the then 35-year-old goes one more time for a big tour down under.
6. Cormac Izuchukwu
We can’t shake the feeling that he brings something different to the table with his carrying ability and pace at the line-out. He edges out Baird for this position.
7. Caelan Doris (c)
He has played openside before and has all of the physical abilities to do so going forward.
While we don't want to write off Josh van der Flier, he has tons of miles on the clock and will be firmly in his mid-30s come 2027.
8. Brian Gleeson
Similar to Doris, Gleeson is a physical freak who will up the power and pace of the Irish pack.
9. Craig Casey
Firmly installed as the first choice with a host of young options behind him, Casey will be a key leader for Ireland in 2027.
10. Jack Crowley
Two years in the saddle as the undisputed first choice will see Crowley boss the Irish team around the park.
At 27 years old, he will be just entering his prime years as an outhalf.
11. Zac Ward
On the topic of bringing something different, we toyed with the idea of Stockdale here, but Ward is just so intriguing.
Blessed with top-end pace and size, he could be Ireland’s power winger in 2027.
12. Jamie Osborne
As listed above, we believe this is his best position.
13. Hugh Gavin
At 6-foot-4 and 105kg, the Connacht youngster is a physical freak with top-end pace and power.
14. Tommy O’Brien
This is a toss-up between Nash, Hansen and himself, but we feel that pace is crucial in this new aerial era.
Nash also is rapid and equally good in the air, so it is 50-50 between those two.
15. Hugo Keenan
Utterly central to Ireland’s aerial game, Keenan dominates the air and was another player who was missed in Chicago.
Replacements: 16. Lee Barron, 17. Paddy McCarthy, 18. Thomas Clarkson, 19. James Ryan, 20. Ryan Baird, 21. Josh van der Flier, 22. Jamison Gibson-Park, 23. Mack Hansen
Squad players: 24. Ronan Kelleher, 25. Michael Milne, 26. Scott Wilson, 27. Edwin Edogbo, 28. Ruadhán Quinn, 29. Cian Prendergast, 30. Nathan Doak, 31. Sam Prendergast, 32. Garry Ringrose, 33. Calvin Nash
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