LONG READ Why Ireland refuse to put O'Mahony, Murray and Healy out to pasture

A good trivia question to throw out in the coming weeks: which player directly links John Hayes to Sam Prendergast? The Munster legend was born in 1973, while Leinster’s latest fly-half hope entered the world some 50 years later. A massive clue lies in our headline, of course, but pocket it for the perfect occasion and it will stump most folks.

The answer is Cian Healy.

Healy was 21 when, in January 2008, Declan Kidney called him into his first Six Nations squad. Hayes was 34 and would play on for three more years. That 13-year gap has been well and truly eclipsed by Healy (37) and Prendergast (21).

Wednesday’s announcement of Andy Farrell’s final Ireland squad before he departs on his British and Lions sabbatical contained few surprises. Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen and Hugo Keenan were back to bolster the backline, while the only uncapped players – Prendergast and Cormac Izuchukwu – toured South Africa in the summer.

One could confidently name 12 of Ireland’s starting XV to face the All Blacks on 8 November. The big areas of contention are hooker, with Dan Sheehan out long-term and Rónan Kelleher rehabbing an injured ankle, whether Hansen can wrest the number 14 jersey from Calvin Nash and who starts on the blindside flank if Peter O’Mahony is not ready in time. Jack Conan has started the season brightly so new captain Caelan Doris could vacate the 8 shirt for his first blindside start since a win over Italy in the 2022 Six Nations.

There are quite a few squad members in their mid 30s. In all of Test rugby, only the Springboks can roll with Ireland when it comes to well-leathered leaders. Bundee Aki and Rob Herring are both 34, and primed for starting roles against New Zealand. Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham, both 33, could well be on the replacements bench.

A remarkable 356 Test caps between the three wizened emissaries, and a combined age of 107. Many, inside and outside Irish rugby, have been asking why the trio are included again.

Then we have three wizened emissaries – Healy, O’Mahony and Conor Murray. A remarkable 356 Test caps between them, and a combined age of 107. Many, inside and outside Irish rugby, have been asking why the trio are included again. Helping the team transition from the World Cup into the Six Nations and going on tour to South Africa made a lot of sense. Johnny Sexton and Keith Earls had moved on but Farrell told his squad’s veterans they would still be considered as long as they wanted to stick around and fight for their place.

All three did just that. Each has featured six times for Ireland since the World Cup, helping them retain their Six Nations title and square an epic Test series with the Springboks. Healy has been there to finish for Andrew Porter when the loosehead can wring no more out. Murray deputised for Gibson-Park in the Six Nations and copped too much of the blame for that late defeat by England. He reminded all of us of his attacking qualities with two tries in two games against the Boks, starting in the victory at Kings Park.

O’Mahony’s reward for staying on was the greatest of all – captaining his country to Six Nations glory and leading the squad to South Africa. There were distracting issues around his contract extension, though, and his powers seemed on the wane during a championship in which he was sin-binned twice. Doris jumped the queue of captaincy contenders and the union did such a stellar job at the transition it barely caused a stir when O’Mahony was dropped to the bench for that 25-24 win over the world champions.

Even with the Autumn Nations Series squad announcement, the IRFU made sure to note O’Mahony was still rehabbing. Fluffing the cushion for a hard land, perhaps, but one suspects the Cork native has been in on Farrell’s thinking, going all the way back to October 2023. He held the baton but knew it would not be his for long.

Those making the argument for Ireland to fast-forward with the succession planning have a valid point. Had they gone into this slate of November games with, say, Jack Boyle, Alex Kendellen and Ben Murphy, it would have been a real statement of intent. Another trio could easily be Josh Wycherley, Will Connors and Matthew Devine (or Nathan Doak). There are players lining up for their shot, as evidenced by the successful Emerging Ireland tour of South Africa.

Others may ask, ‘If not now, when?’ The All Blacks will be a tricky foe but Argentina, Fiji and Australia are sixth, ninth and 10^th in the world respectively. Why not blood some fresh faces ahead of a hotly contested Six Nations, featuring Dupont-Ntamack again, and with Lions tour spots up for grabs?

With Farrell stepping away, after these four Tests, to focus on the Lions, he needs his lieutenants in place to maintain stability.

The answer to those impatient for change is simply to look at what Farrell has instilled in his squads since taking over from Joe Schmidt five years ago. Farrell demands his players first prove it on the training field, then back it up on the pitch. If they buy in and deliver when it counts, he will reward them with his loyalty. Healy has settled into his ‘closer’ role, for Leinster and Ireland (last starting a competitive Test match in March 2022) but O’Mahony and Murray would still back themselves as starters. It would not be easy for such proven competitors – both Lions captains – to play the back-up, but both have done so for Farrell.

Then you have the clincher. With Farrell stepping away, after these four Tests, to focus on the Lions, he needs his lieutenants in place to maintain stability. I expected Healy and O’Mahony to tour South Africa and then step back. Farrell sees it differently. The squad’s leadership group may now have a fresher look (Doris and Hugo Keenan played key roles last year) but the veterans are Farrell’s playing ambassadors. If they are still putting in the hard yakka and setting the bar high, the coach wants them around.

As noted earlier, of all the leading nations’ squads for these November Tests, only South Africa can match Ireland for grizzled experience. That head-tilting abundance of caps. Farrell and Rassie Erasmus have each named seven players aged 33 or older. The All Blacks have only one, in Beauden Barrett. Ireland and the Boks are well aware of their climbing age profile but are not rushing it. At world number one and two, reigning world, Rugby Championship and Six Nations champions, they are well placed and well credentialled to do so.

Ireland will tour Georgia and Romania in July. The World Cup, in Australia, would still be over two years away and many of the younger hopefuls would be drafted in for Test experience.

By the time Farrell takes the reins back from Simon Easterby, we could see Healy, Murray and O’Mahony – with a combined age of 110 – nearing about 380 Test caps. They surely do not pack their bags for a summer trip to Eastern Europe. Surely.

They will be missed when they are gone, but they are going nowhere just yet.