Ireland v England talking points: Six Nations history can be made but beware the old enemy
Jack Crowley takes a kick at training. Picture: INPHO/Ben Brady
Ireland open their Guinness Six Nation’s Championship defence against England at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, with them attempting to smash the record books by winning three consecutive championships for the first time in their history.
Jack Crowley or Sam Prendergast?
Ultimately, the answer to that question is probably both, as interim coach Simon Easterby will require both fly-halves to fire if Ireland are going to collect the Championship Trophy come March, but a lot of column inches are going to be filled between now and then discussing the latest ‘battle’ for the Irish no 10 shirt.
Prendergast’s early displays in green were over-egged in some quarters, with his fortuitous escape from a red card, and numerous wayward kicks out of hand, in his debut against Fiji being overlooked. Yet there is no doubt that he is a talent, and it is a huge positive that he is emerging at this time.
The Leinster out-half does not turn 22 until 12 February, so he is still a baby at this level, but Ireland are correct to back him now, as it can often take until cap 20 or 30 before players really begin to feel comfortable and prosper at this level.
Jack Crowley is a case in point.
He may already have two Six Nations winners medals on his mantelpiece but he is very much in the early stages of his international career himself.
His recent displays for Munster in the Champions Cup against Saracens and Northampton suggest he has hit form at the right time and will be an integral part of Ireland’s title defence.
As will, Prendergast, of course. If Ireland end up as champions again then expect that both will have sprinkled a bit of magic dust along the way.
Tadhg Furlong was ruled out of the England game this week, with the hope being that he would take ‘some part’ in the championship not exactly filling us with confidence.
The Wexford tight head has been a mainstay of this Irish team for a decade, but there are a lot of miles on the clock now, and at 32 the body is beginning to creak.
Finlay Bealham has proved to be an able deputy in the past, but with Tom O’Toole missing the first two rounds of the competition due to the red card he received in the Christmas URC clash with Munster, the tight-head stocks are being stretched to the limit.
24-year-old Leinster man Thomas Clarkson is next man up. He certainly has the size, but he needs to prove to himself and everyone else that he belongs. From the 60th minute onwards on Saturday we should find out whether he does or not.
There was good news in the front row department with the return of hooker Dan Sheehan at the weekend, with him getting 62 minutes for Leinster in their 36-12 victory over the Stormers.
He looked like he was never away, as he bagged a brace of tries in his first appearance since last summer.
England had a strange 2024. In the twelve Tests they played, if we discard the two easy wins they had over Japan, the largest winning or losing margin they were involved in was only nine points.
They lost three times to New Zealand, with them being within a score each time, and they lost thrillers to France and Australia, also by single scores, but did manage to beat Ireland 23-22, thanks to Marcus Smith’s last gasp drop goal.
And with the Curry brothers looking to give England the edge at the battle of the breakdown, they will travel to Dublin thinking now is the time that everything might fall into place.
Ireland will be aware that if they bring their Autumn form to the table on Saturday they will be extremely vulnerable to what looks a very dangerous English side, so a big improvement is required from the home side.
App?
