Ronan O’Gara doesn’t be far off. It was only Monday when the La Rochelle head coach, poring back over Ireland’s defeat to France in their Six Nations opener, suggested that Andy Farrell might have thinking do over anything up to eight positions before the Italy game.
Whatever the final number, it looks like significant change is on the way when the Ireland brains trust names its XV and 23 for their first home tie of the Championship on Thursday afternoon with changes being mooted in every line of the pitch.
Tadhg Furlong’s return to full fitness brings him into play, but it may be the wiser course of action to ease him back into the fray from off the bench given Thomas Clarkson and the rest of the front row fared just fine in Paris.
The impact off the bench at the Stade de France was the main upside for Ireland on a dispiriting night. That brings the likes of James Ryan, Nick Timoney and Jack Conan into the equation as strong candidates for a go from the off.
Ulster’s Cormac Izuchukwu is also available having overcome the remnants of a toe injury and is an option to appear for his country for just the fourth time in a competitive back row department that offers any number of combinations.
Josh van der Flier had a quiet game in the Stade de France and could be under pressure from Timoney. Caelan Doris is another option at openside and a switch there would leave Conan to slot in to what is his favourite position. Balance will be key.
Tommy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale endured difficult evenings on the wings last time out, the latter enjoying better return in that late flurry of Irish improvement, but James Lowe and Robert Baloucoune will be in the mix there too.
Jamie Osborne is almost certain to retain the full-back role, Stuart McCloskey was good at centre and Garry Ringrose is again his likely partner. Neither Sam Prendergast nor Jamison Gibson-Park will feel safe after round one.
Change is afoot, on the bench too, it’s a question of how much.
