The build-up to the World Cup begins in earnest in Dublin this evening:
EVEN JUST THE phrase ‘World Cup warm-ups’ is enough to send a shiver down some people’s spines. We hate to start on a note that will have some people touching wood or saying a quick prayer, but there is cause for those who hate this month before the World Cup.
Ireland’s build-up to the 2019 World Cup also started against the Italians in Dublin. There was a bad injury that day, with Joey Carbery’s ankle issue putting his World Cup in doubt. He did eventually travel but he clearly wasn’t fit in Japan and suffered for a long time after that tournament. While there is much to be gained on an individual basis, Farrell has been stressing that the best means of doing so is by delivering a cohesive, selfless, fluid collective performance. Making it 15 consecutive wins at the Aviva Stadium would be pleasing.Dan Sheridan / INPHO Jack Crowley gets his second Test start for Ireland. Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
In the back three, Farrell will be eager to see what the returning Keith Earls and Jacob Stockdale can offer after over one year and two years, respectively, out of Test rugby. Farrell rates Earls’ defence and would probably like to see dynamism in attack, while he knows Stockdale’s attacking prowess and would possibly like to see some dominant defence against what is a creative Italian team. At fullback, the versatile Jimmy O’Brien could nail down second-choice status behind Hugo Keenan.
Iain Henderson captains the team as he looks for match sharpness, having last played in March, and his nous will be beneficial for 22-year-old Joe McCarthy, a big man and a big prospect in the second row. Farrell would like to see the Leinster lock’s destructive edge married to rigorous discipline. McCarthy has a chance to show that Ireland need a lock of his type in their final squad.
As for the bench, Farrell will want to see debutants Ciarán Frawley, Calvin Nash, and Tom Stewart really challenge his decision-making as he moves towards selecting his final 33. They’ll hope for decent time on the pitch in which to impress and even if Farrell already feels that this trio, along with once-capped Caolin Blade and Cian Prendergast, will be part of his standby list, he’ll want them to show that they’re going to be ready when called upon.
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