Heading into their forthcoming Guinness Six Nations match against England at Twickenham next Saturday, Ireland received an uplifting news with Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, and Iain Henderson recuperating back to peak health. All three playmakers were unavailable for Ireland’s triumph over Wales.
The 27-year-old dependable Keenan remained on the sidelines during Ireland’s 31-7 home victory against Wales. An injury to his knee during Ireland’s definitive win over Italy in the second round led to his absence. Keenan, a prominent feature in the team, had marked his start in 32 out of Ireland’s 36 test matches since early 2021.
Keenan’s situation offered Ciarán Frawley his first opportunity to make a debut by scoring a try against the Welsh. However, Keenan is set to retake his position for the upcoming match in Twickenham. Ringrose, sidelined for the first three rounds due to a shoulder injury, is also expected to bounce back. Likewise, Henderson, who faced exclusion from the squad in the Welsh game owing to a toe dislocation, is completely fit now. The test will be during Ireland’s Wednesday physical training session.
“Today, Garry, Hugo, Hendy, along with Oli [Jager], attended the practice session,” stated John Fogarty, the scrum coach, during the team’s non-contact preparatory session at the IRFU high-performance centre on Tuesday.
He emphasized the significance of the squad’s health for the team’s selection and was pleased to see them training together. He further marked their revival by highlighting the productivity of today’s on-field training session.
Fogarty added that the team’s most physical training session, scheduled for tomorrow, would assess their strategy and the players. It will give a clear picture of Keenan’s status post tomorrow’s session, post which Andy will select his squad. Fogarty reiterated that even though there’s no significant contact during their sessions, today’s training was full-speed, essentially a coaching day.
He explained their weekly schedule, stating they conceive a plan on Monday, implement it on Tuesday, and assess their defensive strategy and launch timings. They will then perform a full-contact test on Wednesday, hoping to keep it as real-time as possible, in readiness for the forthcoming monumental challenge at Twickenham.
Fogarty shared his insights as we approach the rugby match next Saturday between Ireland and England. He commented that the opportunity to play at Twickenham always has an invigorating effect on the English team. Fogarty is aware that England’s recent defeat to Scotland may shake them, yet expects their pride and the energy of their fans at their home stadium will translate into a powerful performance. He added that the intensity of the stadium can be disorientating for players, however, is focusing on preparing his team for the charged atmosphere of Twickenham-like conditions.
He said their aim is to play as the best versions of themselves, deal with the situation calmly, and focus on their own game. Impressively, he expressed confidence in the team’s selection for the upcoming Six Nations 2024 tournament, specifically if Keenan, Ringrose and Henderson are all declared fit to play, which would make it the toughest choice to date.
If they decide to keep a 6-2 split, which seems probable, he believes Keenan and Ringrose will return, possibly Ringrose wearing the number 23 shirt, this might leave Frawley and Stuart McCloskey out. The same goes for Henderson.
He relayed that as a forwards coach, there is a preference for the 6/2 configuration, citing their ability to draw strong players from the bench as forwards. Fogarty spoke highly of the competition within the team at training, as they constantly push to improve one another.
He argued, though, that they have to be adaptable and make choices suitable for every match. Although Fogarty and his fellow coach, Paul, may prefer the 6/2 arrangement, he said they focus more on ensuring their decisions benefit the team each week.
Two years ago at Twickenham, the Irish scrum was fraught with challenge, surrendering five penalties but still managing to pull through despite the difficult set-piece. It was a tense day that left an unwanted mark in our memory. We aspired to perform better and our scrum team was motivated to present a more successful performance; after all, both momentum and energy play a crucial role at Twickenham.
The set-piece, scrum and maul will undoubtedly weigh heavily in their strategy. It was a critical juncture for our collective group, filled with moments of frustration. England employs a fast-paced strategy in scrum, quickly finishing it off as soon as they gain any momentum – a manoeuvre that oftentimes pressurises the referee into making a call.
Regrettably, a few mistakes were made by the referee on that day. However, the silver lining is that we were able to make strides in improving our scrum. Sure, there were some stumbling blocks, but we’ve absorbed valuable lessons from our campaign encounters and we’re in a better position now. Penalties were conceded against Italy and Wales, but I can proudly say, with 94% launching of our own ball, we rank highest in the launching aspect. Only one penalty was given up from our end.
We’re currently in a favourable position, but cannot afford to be complacent or overly confident as that may ironically hinder our performance. We certainly do not wish to jump start any team, least of all England, this coming weekend. The up and coming game surely promises to be momentous and it is our aim to wholeheartedly prepare for this huge skirmish.
Referee Nika [Amashukeli] certainly has his work cut out for him as it’s a significant match for the teams involved that strives to achieve and project something meaningful. Indeed, our current preparation signifies the magnitude of the game.