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Six Nations 2017 Preview: Ireland Aren't Changing What Isn't Broken

Is this getting to be too regular an occurrence for Ireland's key man Johnny Sexton?

As the countdown to the 2017 Six Nations continues, James Harrington surveys Joe Schmidt’s squad and rues the omission of some form players.

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What to look out for
It’s pretty much ‘as you were’ for Ireland, after Joe Schmidt announced by email a well-worn squad with little new for anyone to get particularly excited about. There’s nothing wrong with that – why tinker too much with a formula that worked against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in 2016? But a number of in-form players, notably Leinster wings Adam Byrne and Rory O’Loughlin, can maybe consider themselves unfortunate to have missed out.

Strengths
That powerful and mobile back row of CJ Stander, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip – with Van der Flier on the bench is pretty damn impressive. Scarily, Ireland also have not-quite-fit Munster captain Peter O’Mahony, who was fire-and-brimstone brilliant off the bench against Australia, and Jack Conan to keep the trio honest. Then, there’s the midfield partnership of Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw, who have transferred club form to Test level. Who needs project player Jared Payne?

Weakness
Ironically, a player who should be considered a strength: Johnny Sexton has played barely two hours of rugby since injuring his hamstring in the second Test against New Zealand on November 19, but was still named in Ireland’s Six Nations’ squad, such is his importance to the team. Then, he limped off midway through the first half of Leinster’s final European Champions Cup pool match after feeling a niggle. After saying that Sexton had resumed full training this week, Ireland revealed on Tuesday that he has been ruled out of the opening match against Scotland. Schmidt had only named Paddy Jackson as understudy, but Ian Keatley was expected to join up with the squad at short notice.

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The Man in Charge
In October 2016, Joe Schmidt signed a contract extension to stay on as Ireland coach until after the 2019 World Cup in Japan. After that, he may think it’s time to move on – but such questions are two-and-a-half years away. In rugby terms at least, everything is all kinds of settled in Dublin – and that’s got to be good for the Irish.

Player to Watch
Niall Scannell. With Leinster’s Sean Cronin injured, the job of Rory Best’s understudy should go to the Munster man – who has been in rare form in the Pro12 and the European Champions Cup – rather than Cronin’s Leinster compatriot James Tracy. Scannell is strong in the scrum, a better lineout performer than Tracy and has the pace to be more than useful in the loose. The 34-year-old Best is entering the twilight of an impressive international career. Scannell, 10 years his junior, could be the player to fill his boots, despite the arrival from New Zealand of Rhys Marshall last October.

Big Match
Saint Patrick’s Day weekend. Ireland v England in Dublin. The final match of the final round of the 2017 Six Nations. Both sides potentially coming into the game unbeaten. Everything to play for including, for Eddie Jones’s men, bettering New Zealand’s winning streak. Tournament rugby wouldn’t get much better than that.

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Prediction
Second. The media have handed Ireland the job of England’s Grand Slam killers-in-chief – and they have been installed as favourites in some quarters. But there’s the small matter of the penultimate weekend’s trip to Cardiff to consider first. And the trip to Italy before that – not to mention the opening day journey to Edinburgh, to face Scotland. Three away matches followed by a final-day encounter with England does not make for an easy Six Nations for Joe Schmidt’s men.

Squad
Forwards: Finlay Bealham, Rory Best, Jack Conan, Ultan Dillane, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Billy Holland, Dave Kilcoyne, Dan Leavy, Jack McGrath, Sean O’Brien, Tommy O’Donnell, Peter O’Mahony, Donnacha Ryan, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, CJ Stander, Devin Toner, James Tracy, Josh van der Flier.
Backs: Tommy Bowe, Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Craig Gilroy, Robbie Henshaw, Paddy Jackson, Rob Kearney, Kieran Marmion, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Luke McGrath, Conor Murray, Tiernan O’Halloran, Garry Ringrose, Rory Scannell, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble, Simon Zebo

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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