6 Nations
Big Calls Cause a Stir; Ireland vs England Preview
The teams have been named and there are some interesting calls on both sides as Ireland and England collide once more
It’s getting closer and closer to 16:45 on Saturday when two old foes clash at the Aviva as Ireland host England in the 6 Nations.
Both teams have been named and they have caused some debate, but will the changes pay off?
The hosts and reigning Grand Slam champions have called on their big players, however Robbie Henshaw has been selected at full-back ahead of veteran 15 Rob Kearney.
Kearney has been recovering from an injury and returned to playing duties last weekend with Leinster as they hosted the Scarlets, but made a massive mistake leading to a try and isn’t ready in Schmidt’s eyes.
Instead, his Leinster team-mate, Henshaw, usually at centre, comes in and has opened up the selection battle for the World Cup later in the year.
Elsewhere on the park, captain Rory Best starts alongside Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong in a formidable front-three.
Behind them, Leinster duo Devin Toner and James Ryan partner up once more. While Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander and Josh van der Flier make up the pack, with van der Flier being preferred to Sean O’Brien at seven.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton are the half-backs, with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose continuing their championship winning partnership in the centre.
Last year’s top try scorer and player of the tournament, Jacob Stockdale, will be looking to continue his fine form at 11, with Keith Earls on the opposite wing, and Henshaw at 15.
The bench sees Dave Kilcoyne picked over Jack McGrath, and Quinn Roux gets a seat ahead of Ultan Dillane. Elsewhere, John Cooney is in line for his championship debut, and Jordan Larmour is selected as the 23rd man.
#GuinnessSixNations
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) January 31, 2019
Here's the Ireland team to play @EnglandRugby on Saturday.#TeamOfUs #IREvENG #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/JkUqun7IIj
If Ireland’s selection turned a few heads, England’s certainly raised some eyebrows with some debate as players battled for places.
Like Ireland, they have decided to pick a different full-back, with Elliot Daly starting ahead of Mike Brown, who, like Kearney fails to make his team’s 23.
The visitors have had a few boosts since their November series and none more so then having both Vunipola brothers at their disposal.
Mako Vunipola is joined in the front-row by Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler.
In the second-row Maro Itoje is partnered by George Kruis, who wins his place over the likes of Joe Lauchbury and Courtney Lawes.
The back-row is made up of Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, and Billy Vunipola. While Ben Youngs comes in at scrum-half alongside captain and fly-half Owen Farrell.
In the centre, Manu Tuilagi is in line for his first 6 Nations start in over five years, with Henry Slade by his side.
Jack Nowell has been rewarded for his impressive form at Exeter with a starting role at 11. Jonny May occupies the No 14 jersey, with Daly finishing the starting XV.
Their bench will have a significant role to play with the likes of Courtney Lawes, Nathan Hughes, George Ford, and Chris Ashton to call upon. Wasp’s Dan Robson is also in line for his test debut.
BREAKING | Your England team to face Ireland on Saturday in the #GuinnessSixNations
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) January 31, 2019
➡ https://t.co/OvATMGPtYw#IREvENG #CarryThemHome ? pic.twitter.com/CoiwYTZsTj
Speaking ahead of the match both coaches are confident and explained their decisions.
Ireland head coach, Joe Schmidt, has predicted an exciting match and believes the two teams will go toe to toe on Saturday.
“It will be exhilarating and edge of the seat. I don’t think there will be a huge amount between the teams. People are going to be entertained,” he said.
Schmidt will have made a few players sweat with his logic behind the Henshaw selection too, admitting this may become a permanent position for the Athlone native.
“Maybe even as a longer-term option with only 31 going to the World Cup you need guys who can be versatile. There is probably a little bit of that as well as Robbie being a good player and recognised fullback anyway,” he said.
His opposite number, Eddie Jones, has told the media that his team is ready for Ireland and claim a first win in the Aviva since 2013.
“It is well documented no one thinks we can win but I can tell you everyone inside our camp believes we can win,” he said.
He added to Schmidt’s views on how the game will plan out too, as his team look to end a three-game losing streak in the competition and thinks the final minutes will be crucial.
“Traditionally England and Ireland games are always very close, they are tough affairs, there is a lot of emotion in the games so our ability to finish the game strongly is going to be vital,” he said.
Last year, this fixture saw Ireland claim a 24-15 victory and the Grand Slam with it, but it will be a different beast this time around.
So, the teams have been named, the coaches have had their say, players have been dropped, others have been given an opportunity to impress in battle.
All that is left to do is wait and watch, as these two old foes are set to light up the Aviva on Saturday, with the winner gaining bragging rights and possibly the 6 Nations this year.
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.
The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:
“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.
“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.
“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.
“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”
The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.
IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:
Saturday, 16th November:
Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)
Friday, 22nd November:
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)
Friday, 29th November:
Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)
Friday, 20th December:
Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)
Saturday, 21st December:
Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)
Weekend of 28/29 December:
Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.
Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.
Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart
In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.
Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)
15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Replacements:
16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.
The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.
The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+
Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+
Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
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IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
