Ireland have a major blind spot - here's how England are primed to exploit it and cause a Six Nations shock in Dublin
Ireland have a major blind spot - here's how England are primed to exploit it and cause a Six Nations shock in Dublin
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In 1983-84, the legendary Willie John McBride had a disastrous one-season spell as Ireland head coach. McBride was a big believer in experience and the squad he selected for that season’s Five Nations was overflowing with it. Names like Fergus Slattery, Moss Keane, Willie Duggan, Phil Orr and Ciaran Fitzgerald were highly respected in the rugby world but by the time the tournament started, they were all well into their 30s.
![[Easterby is taking the reins from Andy Farrell (right) while the latter prepares for the Lions tour]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/17/94605547-14334603-image-a-87_1738087096080.jpg)
Indeed, only second row Donal Lenihan was under 30 years of age in a forward pack that was quickly dubbed ‘Dad’s Army’. Ireland lost all four Five Nations matches to run away with the wooden spoon and after they were humiliated 32-9 by Scotland in their final outing in Dublin, McBride was gone.
![[Conor Murray (left) and Cian Healy (right) are still being used off the bench in their late 30s]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/17/94605745-14334603-image-a-88_1738087166745.jpg)
More than 40 years on, there are echoes of that ‘Dad’s Army’ era in Ireland’s approach to the upcoming Six Nations Championship. With Andy Farrell away on his Lions sabbatical, interim head coach Simon Easterby had the opportunity to put his own stamp on proceedings, but he stuck very much to the script and his Six Nations squad is heavily weighted in favour of the tried and trusted.
![[Ireland had a disappointing autumn, with their defeat by the All Blacks marking a hammer blow]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/18/94605801-14334603-image-a-89_1738087278889.jpg)
Simon Easterby (left) has a far more experienced, but ageing, squad than Steve Borthwick. Easterby is taking the reins from Andy Farrell (right) while the latter prepares for the Lions tour. It means that when the Ireland matchday 23 is announced for the showdown with England in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, it could feature as many as 11 players over the age of 30.
![[England have a far younger, more vibrant team than Ireland, led by new captain Maro Itoje]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/18/94605981-14334603-image-a-90_1738087502291.jpg)
The likes of Bundee Aki (age 34, 61 caps), Jamison Gibson-Park (33 next month, 38 caps) and Peter O’Mahony (35, 110 caps) have been hugely influential internationals over an extended period but the evidence from Ireland’s underwhelming autumn - losing to New Zealand, then scraping past Argentina and Australia and thumping Fiji - suggests their best days may be behind them.
![[The Aviva is still a fortress for Ireland, who are unbeaten there in the Six Nations since 2021]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/18/94606031-14334603-image-a-91_1738087587644.jpg)
