The most important player on the pitch is often not the best player on the pitch; elite sport brings its vagaries that require balance in units and teams.
Take Jack Conan; in any other environment his football playing skills, use of space and more importantly his creation of space for others to thrive would be craved. But he can’t make the ‘Test’ side; he does so tomorrow.
Other things are prioritised.
Whereas last weekend’s Irish back row were immense, ridiculous at it sounds, they can improve. For one, the best ball carrier in the pack (possibly the team!) is a prop, Tadhg Furlong. The reason; obviously he has the full array of abilities when on the ball but crucial to Joe Schmidt’s triangle and diamond formation is that he looks and acts and sells the full array to the defence.
There is little value in making a pass in the diamond formation if you don’t look like you are selling the carry first; whilst all around are simultaneously selling their roles.
As noted on Monday, 47 minutes of foundation tricked Dane Coles and his team-mates as Johnny Sexton and All Black contact co-terminated. He had a complete triangle to choose from as Coles hunted off the tail of the lineout to smash Sexton who was selling several options two of which were Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander; both running hard to sell.
Henderson came on but what an impact Beirne would have made too both in general play and the lineout
Sexton’s greatest asset (possibly) is the ability to select the best option just as Coles arrives. Yes, that ultimate option to Aki and a rewind was their preferred choice but never discount Sexton keeping the others open to the last safe moment.
This ability separates both Sexton and Joey Carbery from the rest in that they both thrive in congestion. Only on Coles’ hit did Sexton execute the pullback pass to Bundee Aki for the Jacob Stockdale try; van der Flier and Stander were still selling.
Kieran Read, at his best, is Furlong, O’Mahony and Stander rolled into one with their full array of skills and physicality.
It’s unlikely Stockdale will catch the All Blacks ‘MIA’ in defence again, but England did the previous week when Chris Ashton rewound down the right-hand side to expose Damian McKenzie.
Can tomorrow’s Irish team replicate similarly against the USA where the greatest window into a team’s culture is when the second-string step in to mimic the stars.
Diamond is key
As tomorrow’s game unfolds who can manage the triangle and diamond shape akin to last Saturday or, better still, who can sell it before selecting the best option. Carbery can, but who else?
All the other building blocks, aerial duals, breakdown, set piece etc are important but the diamond is key.
I noted last Friday that last week's Irish bench would have gained more had both Tadhg Beirne and Ian Henderson been there. Henderson came on but what an impact Beirne would have made too both in general play and the lineout that subsequently struggled. He is too good to leave out of the 23 especially when last week's starting back row have the flexibility to all play any number.
It is a massive match for Will Addison at fullback but even more so for Stuart McCloskey
When O’Mahony and Devin Toner departed last Saturday the lineout options dipped where Beirne would have lifted same.
I think of Wallaby (and former Leinster) Owen Finegan’s substitute impact in the 1999 RWC final. Scrumhalf George Gregan carries infield off an Australian lineout to backdoor pass to Finegan who receives 32 metres out from the French line and makes it! Beirne’s ball carrying can easily impact thus, not to mention his lineout and jackal ability.
Of tomorrow's selection, Niall Scannell is a significant threat to Rory Best in that Scannell's basics are always there and his ball carrying ability in heavy traffic has been magnificent all season; more than capable of surviving the first wave of high line US defence with his deft feet placement; adding value to the ball, offload or placement.
This may jump him over Sean Cronin who is still the best impact hooker and may unfortunately remain so. Beside Scannell is Munster team-mate, David Kilcoyne, who has changed his game significantly this season. He's far more involved both with and without the ball. His big fringe defence has evolved making him most comfortable out wider.
Massive match
Likewise, he is carrying far more (no stat to support this but my eyes!) where he’s not satisfied with simply bashing as he’s added a swivel of the head when riding contact, hunting for an offload – all of which must have been encouraged and practised under Johann van Graan.
Both Ireland wingers, Andrew Conway and Darren Sweetnam, are extremely hungry for action; not in a selfish way. Even world class players such as George North allow games to pass by but not these two.
Expect them to hunt for opportunities and the ball where they’ll pop up, blind, off centre field rucks to expose fatiguing fatties.
As for the scrumhalf berth there is a genuine opportunity for John Cooney and Luke McGrath with McGrath slightly edging Kieran Marmion in general terms into the number two slot.
It is a massive match for Will Addison at fullback but even more so for Stuart McCloskey. The Ulster monster in many ways is in an impossible bind; a marauding ball carrying performance is expected and should provide ample opportunities for his outside backs but can he convince Schmidt he's the real prototype?
