Ahead of the first test against reigning back-to-back World Cup champions South Africa this Saturday in Pretoria, Bernard Jackman thinks that Rassie Erasmus might be correct in his assumption that Craig Casey will start the opening game.
South Africa head coach Erasmus has already named his side, making four changes from the XV that started against Ireland at the World Cup last year. Damian Willemse, Steven Kitshoff, and Jasper Wiese were among those injured and suspended.
Ireland have held back on announcing their selection, but Erasmus has been up to his usual mind games, implying that he has insight into Andy Farrell’s way of thinking ahead of the clash.
Bernard Jackman thinks Craig Casey will start v South Africa
With Jamison Gibson-Park out, the Springboks coach predicted that "the small one from Munster" Casey would get the thumbs up at scrum-half this week, ahead of clubmate Conor Murray.
Speaking on the RTÉ Rugby podcast, Jackman admitted that Erasmus had probably read Ireland’s intentions correctly at scrum-half. Jackman would expand by saying that he believed that starting Casey there would be necessary for the future of the team.
"Traditionally, you would say, 'Start Murray, bring Casey on for tempo’. I think that we've seen Munster do the reverse, we've seen Conor Murray come on for [Jameson] Gibson Park for Ireland and be very effective," Jackman said.
I think, realistically, you have to start Casey here from a depth-building point of view.
We know it's not going to be an experimental Irish team; I don't think that's Farrell’s fault. I think he's picked the players who've been on form.
I would say it's really important that Craig Casey starts. One of these two tests should be just for him to get that experience.
Jackman believes that planning and playing Casey in preparation for long-term competition for Gibson-Park is crucial for safeguarding the future of the squad.
He is an experienced player already, but just to show that he's comfortable filling in for Gibson-Park and it gives him a chance to mount a challenge to Gibson-Park, that’s what you want.
I think that Gibson-Park is clearly number one in Ireland at the moment. That's good, but you'd love to have pressure on him. And the only way to really get that is to give players opportunity. So, yeah, I think Rassie is probably right.
It's a great opportunity for Craig who's had some really good form this year for Munster.
Craig is so experienced now the inside thing on Craig is that he's just the ultimate pro, all over his game, you know? So why are you holding him back? He needs to have a go at it.
We won't have to wait long to see if Farrell is going to blood Casey into the depts of such a big test or whether he will go with the tried and tested Murray.
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