Nov 25,2024
Andy Farrell says he will have to make some tough selection calls for this weekend's final game of the Autumn Nations Series against Australia.
Ireland host the Wallabies on Saturday, looking to cap their November block off with a third win from four games.
Farrell rejigged his squad for Saturday’s 52-17 win against Fiji, and several of those changes worked out. Gus McCarthy had a debut to remember, Craig Casey and Sam Prendergast looked excellent together as a half-back combination, while Bundee Aki was a destructive force on both sides of the ball.
Unfortunately, it looks unlikely that neither Jamie Osborne or Jacob Stockdale will feature against the Wallabies.
Osborne, who had started well at full-back, departed during the first half with a groin injury, while Stockdale had been enjoying an excellent game before he pulled up with a hamstring injury midway through the second half, and Farrell didn’t appear optimistic about either player’s chances of being available this week.
As far as those who are available are concerned, Farrell says he will keep an open mind when it comes to selection.
"It’s good. It’s exactly what we want," Farrell said about the competition for places.
"We’ve got a big game coming up, it’s what you’d hope for. If it was easy with a big game coming up, then it would probably mean your squad’s not in good health.
"We’ll do what’s right for the team. That’s what we have to do.
"So we’ve a few selection headaches, that’s for sure."
After a good start to their Autumn Nations Series, Saturday’s opponents Australia were brought back down to earth on Sunday, beaten 27-13 by Scotland at Murrayfield.
The Wallabies have won six and lost six of their 12 games under former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt in 2024, but there have been clear improvements to the side since their World Cup disaster under Eddie Jones last year.
And Farrell, who spent three seasons working under Schmidt before becoming Ireland head coach in 2019, says that progress has come as no surprise.
"I think it’s progressing exactly how we thought it would do. He took a little bit of pain but he’s done the right thing for the squad and they’re reaping their reward for that at this moment in time.
"They’ve always got the athletes. He’s trying to find out about them, more personally I would have thought over the last six months. He’s got that now and he’s got them playing really good rugby."
Schmidt won three Six Nations titles with Ireland in his six years in charge, and while he has come up against Ireland since with New Zealand, this will be his first time bringing a team back to the Aviva.
Farrell says he’s aware that the build-up is going to be big this week, both down to Schmidt’s return, and also this game marking the IRFU’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
"I won't be shying away from it. We'll use everything that we've got, obviously. So will they. There's no doubt. It's an exciting last game for everyone.
"We do a lot of work on understanding our history and what it means and for us to have a flow of 150 years, it's a special moment for all of us involved who loves Irish rugby," the Ireland coach added.
