Ireland could be without both Bundee Aki and Hugo Keenan for Ireland Six Nations opener on Thursday week. Aki has been cited following Connacht’s game with Leinster and Keenan has potentially picked up a hand injury training in Portugal ahead of next week’s game.
From Bundee Aki’s point of view he only has himself to blame after a number of verbals with last Saturday’s official Eoghan Cross in the game in Galway. He has been cited and will find out over the coming days his punishment. Jude Postlewaite has been drafted into the squad as his replacement.
From Hugo Keenan’s perspective, the suspected injury comes at a horrible time and could open the door for Ciaran Frawley, Jacob Stockdale or Jack Crowley potentially to fill in at full back in the Stade De France.
What these injuries do is they open the door for others to stick the hand up and remind Mr Farrell he can look outside the tried and trusted for a solution. He has a number of injuries to look after but as I previously stated, this may be a blessing in disguise although I may regret saying that if France find there grove from the off next week.
Irish players have had a number of issues with match officials over the past year in particular with Caelan Doris and Tadgh Beirne struggling to get there point across between the tone of voice and just plain bad timing in terms of an interaction with the referee in charge.
This citing should be a timely reminder to the Irish squad to leave the talking to the captain and to simply zip it during a game. Certain players have struggled to keep quiet over recent times and It has become quite noticeable during games the amount chirping back and forth.
Munster have fallen foul of it as have Leinster so this citing should focus minds and remind those players looking to have interactions, maybe think better of it and leave the speaking to be done by the captain on the day.
Given those issues for Farrell, it will be interesting to see what sort of 23 he will pick to take on defending champions France on French soil…..
Here is my revised 23 to play France :
15 Ciaran Frawley
14 Tommy O Brien
13 Garry Ringrose
12 Stuart Mc Closkey
11 Robert Balcounne
10 Harry Byrne
9 Jamison Gibson Park
8 Caelan Doris
7 Nick Timoney
6 Jack Conan
5 Tadgh Beirne
4 Joe Mc Carthy
3 Tadgh Furlong
2 Dan Sheehan
1 Michael Milne
–
16 Ronan Kelleher
17 Billy Bohan
18 Thomas Clarkeson
19 Josh Van Der Flier
20 James Ryan
21 Craig Casey
22 Jack Crowley
23 Jamie Osborne
Here is my A side to face England in Thomond Park on Friday week :
15 Shane Daly
14 Joshua Kenny
13 Dan Kelly
12 Cathal Forde
11 Zac Ward
10 Jack Murphy
9 Ben Murphy
8 Bryan Ward
7 Paul Boyle
6 Sean Jansen
5 Charlie Irving
4 Darragh Murray
3 Oli Jager
2 Gus Mc Carthy
1 Sam Crean
–
16 Stephen Smyth
17 Sam Illo
18 Sam Wilson
19 Diarmuid Mangan
20 Brian Gleeson
21 Fintan Gunne
22 Mathew Devine
23 James Hume