A sudden storm of injuries has battered Ireland's wing options on this cold January afternoon, with Connacht confirming that Mack Hansen will be out for 3-4 months after shoulder surgery today, while Leinster have revealed that Jimmy O'Brien is set 'to miss a number of months with a neck injury'.
It had been brewing since New Year's Day when Hansen was taken off against Munster after being smashed at rucktime, but the confirmation is still a shock, with the Aussie being one of Ireland's best performers over the last year, and O'Brien next in line on the right wing.
Blow For Ireland With Hansen & O'Brien Out For Months
It's fairly unfamiliar territory for Andy Farrell, whose main circle of players have been relatively healthy in the past couple of seasons.
However, despite the fretting and angst from Irish fans, there are positives to take - from a purely rugby perspective - when coaches are forced to delve deep into their resources.
Ireland benefitted when a raw Jack Crowley had to be brought in for his first start, against Australia in 2022, and when Dan Leavy needed injuries to allow him to shine in the 2018 Six Nations, while Hansen himself was handed his first cap earlier than expected due to James Lowe's absence.
READ HERE: Ireland Rugby : Connacht Have Questions Over Incident That Led To Mack Hansen Injury
We can confirm Mack Hansen will unfortunately have shoulder surgery today and is expected to be unavailable for 3-4 months.
A tough blow for him at this time of the season. All the best in your recovery Mack 💚
Full squad update: https://t.co/3omKRThae3#ConnachtRugby pic.twitter.com/8WsdZqLER2
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) January 8, 2024
🏉 | Jimmy O'Brien to miss a number of months with a neck injury
Injury Report 👉 https://t.co/PZENuVF4sy#FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/OUxsfIMswG
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) January 8, 2024
The James Lowe Question
Lowe's availability adds uncertainty to the situation. While he is expected to be back for the Six Nations, he has not played since the World Cup and has not been mentioned in recent injury updates from Leo Cullen.
Cullen has not spoken about Lowe since early December, with the silence and lack of info adding to the worry, even though he did not appear too disconcerted over the winger:
“James had a couple of bits going on since the World Cup," the Leinster head coach said on December 8.
"He went back to New Zealand for a family piece, so again he’s just trying to get back up to speed really.
“He was just managing a couple of things coming back post-World Cup, and then being away, we just want to make sure we do what’s right by the lads. It’s a long season, and particularly for some of the international guys coming back in, there’s a little bit of management there over the course of a season trying to get everyone through.”
Thankfully, Lowe was pictured taking what looked like a full part in training today, and with two Champions Cup games ahead of the Six Nations, he will more than likely be back and up to speed.
8 January 2024; James Lowe during a Leinster Rugby squad training session at UCD in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Our Prediction
Jacob Stockdale is the next winger in the pecking order after Lowe, Hansen, and O'Brien, but his, and James Lowe's, lack of experience in the 14 jersey puts the Munster man in pole position to start against France in Marseille on February 2.
Lowe has no starts there in a top level game, while Stockdale has but one start, which came way back in 2017 at home to Edinburgh - although he did manage 80 minutes and a try in that match.
None the less, Nash crucially has his foot in the door already, after lining out for Emerging Ireland and Ireland A, before making his full debut against Italy in August.
His blistering start to the season for Munster will also help his cause.
5 August 2023; Calvin Nash of Ireland during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Alternative Options
The return of 2018 Stockdale is looking more likely by the week, with the air of confidence and swagger that he exuded at his peak making frequent returns at Ravenhill this season.
He already has six tries to his name for 2023/24, and his high up the URC charts for clean breaks and metres gained.
There is a possibility that Farrell will try him out at 14, given his superior international experience, but at the very least a start against Italy should be on the cards.
26 August 2023; Ireland rugby ; Jacob Stockdale of Ireland during the Rugby World Cup warm-up match between Ireland and Samoa at Parc des Sports Jean Dauger in Bayonne, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Jordan Larmour fell out of favour prior to the World Cup following a drought of poor form for Leinster in the latter stages of the 2022/23 season, which resulted in him missing out on selection for the World Cup training squad.
His experience on the right wing brings him back into contention, as does his performance on St. Stephen's Day, where he was the pick of the wingers as Leinster edged out Munster in Thomond Park.
He showed off his elusiveness in awful conditions and his ability to gain ground where others wouldn't, and also looked solid under the high ball - an area often seen as a weakness of his.
26 December 2023; Ireland Rugby ; Jordan Larmour of Leinster during the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Leinster at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
The Others
Robert Baloucoune has featured for Ireland more recently than Larmour, although his form is not back at the highs of 2022.
Shane Daly is unlikely to start, but given that O'Brien and Hansen are also Ireland's second and third choice fullbacks, he looks odds on for a place in the squad.
Should one of the centres take a knock, he could be in line to tog out at no. 23. Similarly to O'Brien, he covers wing, fullback, and centre to a high level.
If Farrell fancies a left field option, Connacht's Diarmuid Kilgallen and Leinster's Tommy O'Brien have both looked excellent this season.
On the point of fullback, the 33-year-old Simon Zebo may come back in from the cold following two magnificent displays at 15 against Leinster this season. Taking form and international experience into account, he is Ireland's second best available fullback.
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