Ireland team that should start Second Test against New Zealand, and level series

“It isn’t a dejected changing room.”

Andy Farrell was in defiant mood at a post-match press conference that he flew solo at. His Ireland team had just been beaten 42-19 and his captain, Johnny Sexton was not on media duties after failing one Head Injury Assessment but passing a follow-up.

Covid, concussions and injuries have been the over-riding theme of this summer tour, so far. That and two defeats to sides that played with pace, purpose and that Kiwi knack of turning a quarter-chance into a seven-pointer.

This tour has started like the 2012 trip to New Zealand – injuries affecting the build-up, high hopes heading into the Eden Park opener, shock and awe moments and a resounding defeat in the First Test. A decade ago, Ireland answered back by going to Christchurch and being the better side. Only a shocking Nigel Owens scrum decision and a rare Dan Carter drop goal did for Declan Kidney’s men, that day.

There is no midweek game against the Maori All Blacks, so Sunday and Monday will be all about resting and reflecting. Tuesday and Thursday will be the training load days, and time to make running repairs to set-pieces and set-plays.

Johnny Sexton and HIA 3

Stuart McCloskey will arrive from his summer holidays to the South Island of New Zealand, this week, but he is more likely to feature in the Maori game, and possibly that final Test, depending on how next Saturday in Dunedin goes.

Before Andy Farrell can properly start planning to get this series levelled, he will want to know if Johnny Sexton is available to him. The Ireland captain slipped and took two quick dunts to the head as he collided with a braced Sam Cane, inside the New Zealand 22. He failed Head Injury Assessment 1 and did not return to the game.

HIA 2 is carried out post-match, using a SCAT 5 [standardised tool for evaluating concussions]. This is used ‘to assess clinical progress and identify an early diagnosis of concussion’. Farrell told reporters that Sexton had undergone HIA 2 and had passed. The next step is HIA 3, which would take place ‘after two nights’ rest’, on Monday.

Should Sexton pass HIA 3, showing no signs of late concussion, he will be cleared to resume training with Ireland and be back in contention for the Second Test. It would also mean World Rugby’s newly introduced 12-day minimum stand-down period for a confirmed concussion would not apply to the Leinster outhalf.

There has already been an admission, by New Zealand Rugby, that Ireland prop Jeremy Loughman should not have returned to the Maori All Blacks game, last Wednesday, after video footage showed him losing his balance before going off and passing HIA 1.

So, we have a player that passed HIA 1 that should not have returned to the field of play, and a player that failed HIA 1, and with a clear concussion history, still in contention for next Saturday’s game. If World Rugby wanted to clear up some of the uncertainty around concussion guidelines and practices, the past five days have not been a good look.

Possible changes to the Ireland team

We expect Andy Farrell to keep faith with most of the starting XV that began so brightly at Eden Park before shipping four tries in 19 first half minutes.

Andrew Porter had a tough day at the scrum, but put in an 80+ minute performance that contained some better moments around the park. Ed Byrne may well back him up, in Dunedin, but Finlay Bealham’s ability to play loosehead may see him used there, on the replacements bench, and Tom O’Toole also in the 23.

Caelan Doris was not at his best, so Farrell may well consider bringing him into his starting Ireland team. Gavin Coombes was one of the better performers against the Maoris, so he is a bench consideration, at least.

Keith Earls had a decent outing on the right wing, but we would bring back Mack Hansen for this game. Earls would then be up against Bundee Aki for that backline cover spot. The other area that we mulled over was second row. James Ryan is lacking that punch of recent seasons and Kieran Treadwell, to our mind, is now pushing him hard. Like Farrell, though, we are giving Ryan this Dunedin game to show he can shake these Kiwis up. The same goes for Jamison Gibson Park.

As for outhalf, give Joey Carbery the keys for this one and let us see what he is made of. He did okay in the First Test but will rue spilling that try chance. Let him have the week to run with this team, his team, and it will surely stand to Ireland, heading into next season and ahead of the World Cup.

OUR IRELAND TEAM FOR THE SECOND TEST

15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Joey Carbery
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. James Ryan
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris

REPLACEMENTS: Rob Herring, Finlay Bealham, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton/Harry Byrne, Bundee Aki.

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