After missing last year’s Six Nations due to his commitments with the British and Irish Lions, Ireland’s head coach Andy Farrell is quickly reminded of the challenges of squad preparation ahead of the championship.
Farrell is well-acquainted with the pressures that come with managing player selections. In 2023, both Jamison Gibson-Park and Cian Healy had to withdraw from the matchday squad mere hours before Ireland’s opening clash against Wales in Cardiff.
Despite these hurdles, Ireland secured a 34-10 victory that day and ultimately achieved a Grand Slam. However, as they edge closer to next week’s highly anticipated opener against reigning champions France in Paris, the pre-game preparations have become increasingly complex.
Some issues were known well in advance; for instance, in early December, Connacht announced that Mack Hansen, a solid option for wing or full-back, would be out for “months for sure” due to a foot injury.
Since Farrell announced a 37-man squad on January 21, injuries have continued to mount. With Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy already unavailable, the loose-head prop situation worsened when Jack Boyle had to withdraw after suffering a serious leg injury during Leinster’s recent victory over Connacht.
Given Ireland’s difficult experience against South Africa’s scrum last November, these absences could be significantly felt.
Munster flanker Tom Ahern also left the squad, prompting the inclusion of uncapped players Billy Bohan and Cormac Izuchukwu. Further complications arose after the team arrived in Portugal for their usual pre-tournament training camp.
Farrell has acknowledged that his injury list is “larger than normal,” and he recently lost full-back Hugo Keenan to a fractured thumb, a tough blow after Keenan had just returned from a hip issue that sidelined him since his impressive performance for the Lions last summer.
With ongoing discussions about the fly-half position, the full-back role has now become another concern for Farrell. Jamie Osborne filled in during matches against New Zealand and Japan last November; however, he hasn’t played since the victory over Japan and remains in the squad.
Options for Farrell include Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale, Leinster’s Ciaran Frawley, and Munster’s Jack Crowley, who is also competing with Sam Prendergast and Harry Byrne for the fly-half spot.
Keenan’s injury was announced shortly after confirmation that Bundee Aki did not travel to Portugal due to disciplinary issues. Jude Postlethwaite of Ulster has replaced him in the squad.
Aki is set to face an independent disciplinary committee on Wednesday after being cited for comments made to match officials during Connacht’s recent defeat to Leinster.
Previously, Aki’s teammate Hansen received a three-match ban for similar remarks about now-retired referee Chris Busby.
With Aki’s participation uncertain, Stuart McCloskey is positioned to start at inside centre in Paris next week after showcasing solid performances during an injury-stricken autumn campaign.
The unusual Thursday night kickoff for the France match has already shortened Farrell’s preparation time, and with an expanding list of absentees, securing a victory in Paris next week would represent a remarkable achievement in Farrell’s six-year tenure.