Although Iain Henderson and Robbie Henshaw are back in full training and very firmly back in the mix, the likelihood remains that the two Lions will have to settle for a place on the bench when Andy Farrell this morning unveils the Irish side to face France in the 2022 Guinness Six Nations on Saturday in the Stade de France (kick-off 5.45pm local/4.45pm Irish).
Such was the quality of the performance by the starting XV in last Saturday’s 29-7 bonus point win over Wales that it is anticipated the Irish head coach will announce an unchanged starting XV.
That said, due consideration will definitely have been given to the merits of starting Henderson especially against the greater physical power of the French, who are also weighing up the option of restoring Bernard le Roux alongside his fellow South African-born lock Paul Willemse and reverting Cameron Woki to the backrow.
All things being equal, the James Ryan-Henderson combination has been Ireland’s go-to secondrow for a few years even if injuries have restricted the number of times they have packed down together.
However Henderson hasn’t played for eight weeks since sustaining an ankle injury when captaining Ulster to their Heineken Champions Cup win over Northampton at home on December 11th. What’s more, that 47-minute appearance was Henderson’s sole outing since he played 47 minutes of the win over the All Blacks on November 13th.
On that occasion, Farrell and co opted for Henderson to start, with Beirne finishing the last 33 minutes. But, in addition to that appearance, Beirne is more match hardened, having also started nine games this season, and completed 80 minutes in all seven starts for Munster this season.
He epitomises this Irish side’s 15-man, ball-in-hand game and in addition to his skillset has a point of difference in his ability over the ball, which has been a game-breaking quality this season. As Johann van Graan puts it: “Tadhg gets in where water doesn’t.”
Similarly, after a delayed start to the season, Henshaw has been restricted to just four games this season. The last of these, against Bath three weeks ago, has been his only outing since early December and he missed some of the Irish squad’s training week in Portugal with an adductor strain.
By contrast, not only is Bundee Aki also more match hardened, but of his seven starts three have been for Ireland, with the Connacht centre having particularly impactful games in the wins over New Zealand in November and Wales a week ago.
Nailed on
In every other position, the Irish starting XV appears nailed on, all the more so in light of Mack Hansen’s all-embracing debut last Saturday and the continuing absence of James Lowe and Keith Earls. Both of the latter have hamstring injuries and both are back rehabbing with their provinces. Of the two, word is that Lowe might be back in the squad for the Italian game.
If Henderson and Henshaw are named on the bench, it would bring the number of Lions among the Irish replacements to five. It would be an eye-catchingly experienced bench too, with seven of the replacements boasting 451 caps in addition to Dan Sheehan’s three Test appearances.
Fabien Galthié and his assistants are weighing up their options at secondrow, where Thibaud Flament is also an option, the backrow – where François Cros could be preferred to Dylan Cretin if Woki is retained at lock – and in midfield, although the latter is partly enforced upon them.
Jonathan Danty’s ankle injury in last Sunday’s bonus point win over Italy in Paris has ruled him out of next Saturday’s match. The 21-year-old Bordeaux centre Yoram Moefana, born in New Caledonia, came on and made the initial break for Damian Penaud’s try and supplied the try-scoring pass with which Gabin Villière completed his hat-trick. He is a likelier replacement than Virimi Vakatawa, who is regarded as short of fitness after a recent injury.
This game has also come too soon for the brilliant Bordeaux outhalf Mathieu Jalibert, who is still troubled by a thigh muscle injury. Vakatawa could still be an option on the bench if Galthié retains the traditional 5-3 split of last week, but as Thomas Ramos can cover ‘10’ and full-back, while Romain Ntamack can move to midfield and Gaël Fickou can switch to the wing, France could also revert to the 6-2 split they favoured in all three games last November.
Both sides are set to be unveiled at around 11am Irish time.
IRELAND (possible): Keenan; Conway, Ringrose, Aki, Hansen; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong; Beirne, Ryan, Doris, Van der Flier, Conan.
Replacements: Sheehan, Healy, Bealham, Henderson, O'Mahony, Murray, Carbery, Henshaw.
FRANCE (possible): Jaminet; Penaud, Moefana, Fickou, Villière; Ntamack, Dupont (captain); Baille, Marchand, Atonio; Woki, Willemse; Jelonch, Cros, Alldritt.
Replacements: Mauvaka, Gros, Demba, Taofifuena, Cretin, Lucu, Ramos, Le Roux/Vakatawa.
