Andrew Conway could yet be a game-breaker for Ireland... if he gets a game.
Back in January, Joe Schmidt announced his wider squad for the 2017 Six Nations. Conway was one of three uncapped players - along with brothers Niall and Rory Scannell - included in the 40.
While Niall Scannell will be hoping for his fourth cap against England today, his Munster teammate will be anxious to get 'Cap 1'. For now, Conway will be wearing 'Cap 0' on his jersey.
The same anomaly caused some confusion [below] back in November, ahead of Ireland's 40-29 victory over New Zealand, when Garry Ringrose and Joey Carbery sported jerseys with 'Cap 0' stitched on.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/794986988529209346
As Ian Madigan explained, uncapped players on the bench are still deemed to be on '0' until they make their debuts. This would be different if Conway, for example, was starting. He would then deem to be on Cap 1 from the moment the match starts.
While some thought the IRFU's decision to put 'Cap 0' on Carbery and Ringrose's jerseys strange, it worked out to be a sensible move. Carbery came off the bench to replace Sexton, make his debut and lap over a tricky conversion.
Ringrose was not called from the bench as Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne lasted the pace. His Ireland debut would come a week later when he started against Canada.
Given the toll of Test rugby and the gruelling championship grind to date, is likely that Conway will shake off that '0' in the final stages of this afternoon's curtain closer. He is enjoying a good season with Munster and is capable of causing England some trouble.
Watch this space! An Irish rugby player from Cashel in Tipperary is being sought-after by a host of College football teams, despite never playing the game and having previously never even watched a full match. Oluwanifemi ‘Neff’ Giwa, who was born in Ireland and raised by Nigerian parents, has major interest from colleges in the […]
Another big weekend! Your ultimate Ireland TV guide to all of the weekend’s big sporting action is back. We have some huge GAA for you as the Allianz leagues come to an end, and there’s some big clashes across League of Ireland, the Premier League and Scottish Prem. Plus the small matter of a Carabao […]
He is one of the province’s best talents. Leinster’s Alan Spicer has appeared in court charged with assaulting a woman at Copper Faced Jacks nightclub in Dublin. The incident is alleged to have occurred on March 1st of this year. The 21-year-old was arrested at 4.05am that day, and is currently on station bail. He […]