The news of Hugo Keenan reportedly competing in this summer's Olympics for Ireland at rugby sevens has come with a lot of fanfare. Keenan is arguably the best fullback in the world and with his past experience at sevens he could prove to be a pivotal player as Ireland look to become the second nation ever to win gold at rugby sevens.
However this news also means that the Leinster man won't be available this summer for Andy Farrell as Ireland head down to South Africa this summer for a two-test series against the Springboks. Ireland are looking to win their first ever test series win away in South Africa while the Springboks are looking to beat Ireland for the first time under Rassie Erasmus.
Keenan will be a huge miss for Ireland and will need to be replaced accordingly so we had a look at the options Andy Farrell has at his disposal for the test series against South Africa.
Ireland's Fullback Options Ahead Of Springbok Test Series
Ciarán Frawley
24 February 2024; Ciarán Frawley of Ireland celebrates during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Wales at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
The player arguably in pole position to takeover from Hugo Keenan is his Leinster teammate Ciarán Frawley. Frawley finally broke into the Irish team during this year's Six Nations, making his first start against Wales at fullback and he's been deployed in that role for Leinster during their run to the Champions Cup final.
As we know Frawley came through as a fly-half but has the versatility to play anywhere across the backline. Having a second playmaker in the backfield could be beneficial, especially in Mike Catt's Ireland offence where any players can be deployed as the primary playmaker. He's not a like-for like replacement for Keenan but he gives Ireland a different option against the back-to-back World Champions.
Jimmy O'Brien
14 October 2023; Jimmy O’Brien of Ireland during the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
O'Brien only returned from a long spell out with injury this month at Croke Park in the Champions Cup semifinal but he's hit the ground running in the URC for Leinster. He was part of Ireland's World Cup squad, coming on in the quarterfinal against New Zealand and he's also able to play anywhere across the backline like Frawley.
O'Brien is probably the closest like-for-like replacement for Keenan with his speed and play style, so if Ireland want to keep doing what's worked for them with Keenan, O'Brien is the man for the job.
Mack Hansen
9 September 2023; Mack Hansen of Ireland during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Ireland and Romania at Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
While Mack Hansen has excelled on the wing since moving to Ireland in 2021, the Connacht man has played in the 15 jersey on a number of occasions for his province. In fact his last three games for Connacht came at fullback against Bordeaux, Ulster and Munster earlier this season.
What could have fans worried however is Hansen is still yet to return from a shoulder injury he sustained against Munster on New Year's day. He's missed a lot of rugby and playing in a position he hasn't played in for Ireland may be a risky call against the Springboks.
Calvin Nash
24 February 2024; Calvin Nash of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Wales at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
When Hansen went down with his shoulder injury, many were worried about him missing the Six Nations and wondered how Andy Farrell would fill his void. Then Calvin Nash came in and slotted into the starting 15 without those people even noticing that Hansen was gone.
Nash fitted in like a glove for Ireland team and while he has very little experience at fullback (1 start in fact) it's hard to doubt that Nash won't be able to slot in place of another key player once again.
Jordan Larmour
12 July 2022; Jordan Larmour of Ireland during the match between the Maori All Blacks and Ireland at the Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Larmour hasn't always been a favourite under Andy Farrell. The Leinster man has suffered from injuries and lack of form at times since Farrell came in as Head Coach but this season he's been on fire. He's got 9 tries this season including a hat-trick against the Ospreys and got himself back in the Irish team and he was a late call-up to start at fullback in the Six Nations title decider against Scotland.
The one thing that held Larmour back throughout his career has been his aerial ability but he's improved on that this term which will be key against a Springbok team that love to kick contestable balls and put the opposition backfield under pressure.
Mike Haley
10 August 2019; Mike Haley of Ireland during the Guinness Summer Series 2019 match between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
One of the bigger travesties in Irish rugby currently is that Mike Haley only has one cap for Ireland. The Munster man has been Mr Reliable since moving to Limerick from Sale Sharks in 2018, playing over 100 times and racking up 19 tries.
Haley is arguably the best out-and-out fullback behind Keenan in Ireland and wouldn't be playing out of position like the others on this list. It is quite unlikely to happen at this point as Haley hasn't made a cap since Farrell became Head Coach in 2020 but on paper it would be a sensible pick and a well-earned one on Haley's part.
We'd be remiss not to give an honourable mention to the likes of Mike Lowry, Simon Zebo, Will Addison, Jacob Stockdale and Jamie Osborne who all have experience at fullback and have played excellently this season, we don't know if they'll be on the plane to South Africa but there'd be no complaints if they are.
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