Ben Kay predicts ‘challenging’ Autumn Nations Series for injury-hit Ireland - 'Everyone's gunning for them'
Published 28/10/2024 at 10:57 GMT
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England’s Rugby World Cup winner Ben Kay says everyone is “gunning" for Ireland ahead of the Autumn Nations Series, with the world No. 1-ranked side missing some key players due to injury. Andy Farrell is having to go deep into his reserves to find a solution at hooker, with Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher and Rob Herring either unavailable or yet to return from issues.
‘Everyone’s gunning for them’ – Kay and Lawson assess Irish Autumn Nations Series hopes
Video credit: TNT Sports
England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Ben Kay believes the “wheels could come off” for Ireland if they suffer a crisis of confidence in their Autumn Nations Series opener with New Zealand in less than a fortnight.
Andy Farrell’s side go into the final international block of 2024 as the world’s No. 1-ranked team, but the head coach – who will take a sabbatical after these matches to focus on the British and Irish Lions – has injury issues to deal with, along with finding the best option at fly-half between Jack Crowley and Ciaran Frawley.
Caelan Doris has been confirmed as captain for the Autumn, with uncapped forward Cormac Izuchukwu and Leinster No. 10 Sam Prendergast also in the squad.
But Farrell has a big issue at hooker, with Dan Sheehan out injured until 2025. Ronan Kelleher and Rob Herring are involved, but the former is likely to miss the first few games at least, while the latter is yet to play this season because of a calf problem, so Connacht's Dave Heffernan is likely to get the nod.
“Everyone’s gunning for them, they’re number one in the world. With all the injuries they’ve got, the nervousness will be there,” said TNT Sports pundit Kay.
“One of the reasons they are so good is the combinations; they’re greater than the sum of their parts than they are as individuals.
“If you look at Wales, they have some really good individuals, but they’re not able to put a game plan together that suits the whole team and gets the best out of the players that aren’t perhaps world class, but are good international players. Ireland have been able to do that.
“I think this is one of the most challenging tournaments that Ireland have had in the past few years because of some of those key injuries.
“If there’s a dent to the confidence now, it becomes really, really difficult because they’re flying high, they’re right at the top, but New Zealand could totally blow them apart. New Zealand are a team where if you find a weakness, the wheels can come off.”
Ireland face the All Blacks in their autumn opener on Friday, November 8, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, before matches against Argentina, Fiji and Australia.
- Ford comes into England squad for New Zealand opener
- 'I've had a terrible time' - Cowan-Dickie reflects on injury struggles
‘We’ve got box clever’ - Jones backs Wales to ‘fight’
While Ireland are riding high at the top of the rankings, Wales head coach Warren Galtand is continuing to mould a transitional squad which has lost nine Test matches in a row.
It has led to the recalls of some experienced players, like Gareth Anscombe, ahead of their opening autumn international with Fiji on Saturday, November 10, before games against Australia and South Africa.
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‘Gats will have them revved up’ - Jones confident Wales will be competitive despite struggles
Video credit: TNT Sports
“Results wise, it hasn’t been great. We’re kind of behind the eight-ball all the time, funding-wise, whether it’s the academies or the regions … player base isn’t what it used to be,” former Wales international Adam Jones told TNT Sports.
“It’s hard, but traditionally we’ve punched above our weight. We’ve still got class players; Dewi Lake, Jack Morgan. Will they beat South Africa, Australia, Fiji? I don’t know. They’ll still fight, they’ll give their all.
“If you look at the team they put out in the summer, it was young. Not many teams have got that size to compete with that South Africa team at the moment. We’ve got to box clever.
“I’m sure Gats [Gatland] will have them revved up, backs against the wall – traditionally that’s what we’ve been very good at.”
Which Autumn Nations Series matches are on TNT Sports?
In April, it was announced that TNT Sports would broadcast every game of this year's Autumn Nations Series. Below is the full list of fixtures and kick-off times BST.
WEEK 1
November 2
- England v New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium, kick-off: 15:10
- Scotland v Fiji, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, kick-off: 17:40
WEEK 2
November 8
- Ireland v New Zealand, Aviva Stadium, kick-off: 20:10
November 9
- England v Australia, Twickenham Stadium, kick-off: 15:10
- Italy v Argentina, Stadio Friuli, kick-off: 17:40
- France v Japan, Stade de France, kick-off: 20:10
November 10
- Wales v Fiji, Principality Stadium, kick-off: 13:40
- Scotland v South Africa, Murrayfield Stadium, kick-off: 16:10
WEEK 3
November 15
- Ireland v Argentina, Aviva Stadium, kick-off: 20:10
November 16
- Scotland v Portugal, Murrayfield Stadium, kick-off: 15:10
- England v South Africa, Twickenham Stadium, kick-off: 17:40
- France v New Zealand, Stade de France, kick-off: 20:10
November 17
- Italy v Georgia, TBC, kick-off: 13:40
- Wales v Australia, Principality Stadium, kick-off: 16:10
WEEK 4
November 22
- France v Argentina, Stade de France, kick-off: 20:10
November 23
- Ireland v Fiji, Aviva Stadium, kick-off: 15:10
- Wales v South Africa, Principality Stadium, kick-off: 17:40
- Italy v New Zealand, Allianz Stadium, kick-off: 20:10
November 24
- Scotland v Australia, Murrayfield Stadium, kick-off: 13:40
- England v Japan, Twickenham Stadium, kick-off: 16:10
WEEK 5
November 30
- Ireland v Australia, Aviva Stadium, kick-off: 15:10
Stream the Gallagher Premiership, 2024 Autumn Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby on TNT Sports and discovery+
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