Fly-half duel, debuts & NZ fortress beckon for Ireland

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Sam Prendergast and new call-up Sean Jansen hope to feature when Ireland face Ardie Savea's New Zealand at Eden Park on 18 July It was at this point in the previous World Cup cycle - 14 months out from the tournament - when Ireland laid down an unmissable marker. In what some regard as the apogee of the Andy Farrell era, they travelled to New Zealand and came home with a Test series win. That tour - which Ireland won 2-1 with historic, heart-stopping victories in Dunedin and Wellington - instilled enormous belief in Farrell's squad. They won 17 Tests in a row, collecting a Grand Slam along the way, before their world came crashing down when the All Blacks exacted revenge in one of the great World Cup quarter-finals. Four years on, there are intriguing parallels. Like in 2022, they jet off to the other side of the world off the back of a Six Nations campaign that yielded four wins and a defeat by France. This time, however, the summer exertions does not come in the form of a traditional tour. Instead, it is the start of the Nations Championship, the new biennial competition pitting rugby's northern and southern giants against each other. Ireland's opening leg comprises matches against Australia and Japan in Australia and New Zealand in Auckland. As ever, there are talking points aplenty from an Irish perspective as BBC Sport takes a look. Easterby expects 'marker' from Australia in Sydney Published1 day agoBell ready for reunion with 'friends for life' Published5 days agoAn extended injury listThere is no sidestepping the obvious concern. Farrell's squad is missing several key men because of injury. Caelan Doris, who missed last year's Lions tour to Australia, is out, which has elevated Dan Sheehan to the captaincy. Like in the Six Nations, the front-row absentees are plentiful, with loose-heads Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle all injured. Forwards Ryan Baird and Edwin Edogbo are also missing, while Jack Crowley, Tommy O'Brien and Mack Hansen are significant backline absentees. There is also a James Lowe-shaped hole on the left wing after the two-time Six Nations winner decided to leave Leinster and Irish rugby and begin a new chapter in Japan. Farrell often frames injuries as opportunities for other players to step up and this summer will be no different as he navigates three Tests without some of his most trusted players. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Farrell must do without captain Caelan Doris and fly-half Jack Crowley this month Crowley's absence because of a blood vessel issue in his leg has created a selection dilemma at fly-half. We've been here before. A quick recap: Sam Prendergast finished the autumn Tests with the jersey, but by the time the Six Nations ended in March, it was Crowley's. Prendergast, like most of his team-mates, struggled in the opening-weekend loss to France, but a shaky afternoon against Italy prompted Farrell to hand the reins back to Crowley. Still only 23, Prendergast is blessed with wonderful passing and vision, and while his defensive frailties remain a concern, he enjoyed a strong end to the season to help Leinster retain the United Rugby Championship (URC) title. But Harry Byrne - who was preferred to Prendergast for Leinster's run to the Champions Cup final - will feel he is ready for a first Test start. The 27-year-old has started 15 games for Leinster this season and, while he endured a difficult Champions Cup final against Bordeaux-Begles, he will be pushing for a chance after being an unused member of Farrell's last two squads. The third man in the conversation is Ciaran Frawley. Two years on from his Springbok-slaying heroics in Durban, he will move to Connacht after this window in his quest for more regular starting opportunities. Also deployable at inside centre and full-back, starting against Australia would be a tantalising and emotional opportunity for the Sydney-born 28-year-old. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, In-form Ulster wing Zac Ward (left) is hoping to work his way into Andy Farrell's World Cup plans There are five uncapped players in the squad. Three from Connacht and two from Ulster. Connacht's strong end to the season under Stuart Lancaster made an impression on Farrell, who has brought two of the western province's props on the plane. Given his lack of loose-head options, it is perhaps not surprising to see Billy Bohan included. The 20-year-old was a fresh face in this year's Six Nations squad, and while he did not earn a Test debut in the spring, his performances in the second half of the season were enough to bag him a three-year senior contract with Connacht. Only seven months removed from his senior debut, a first Ireland cap over next three weeks would be the culmination of a whirlwind period for the Kildare native. Sam Illo has been around longer than Bohan. His Connacht debut came in January 2022, but he has found another level under Lanc

Fly-half duel, debuts & NZ fortress beckon for Ireland

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