Ireland From An Ulster Perspective
By Caolán Scully
2022 has been a fruitful year for Andy Farrell and the Irish rugby team. They went four from five in the Six Nations, bagging a first Triple Crown since 2018 for their efforts. They then set their eyes on New Zealand, where the heroes in green overcame a gruelling five game slate to win a test series and an ‘A’ game against the Māori All Blacks.
The start of the 2022/23 URC season was overshadowed by an Emerging Ireland tour, which eventually came good in the eyes of the coaches. Now with just one game left in the calendar year, and ten months out from the 2023 World Cup, Irish Rugby is on top of the world... literally.
As we prepare to close the book on this historic year and set our sights on the upcoming Six Nations and then the big one in France next September, I have decided to look back on how the Ulster contingent have fared for Ireland this Autumn, and their perceived ranking in the eyes of Andy Farrell.
Firstly, it has been a productive year for Ulster players in terms of making Ireland squads. I may have left out a few other call-ups, but to the best of my knowledge and research, Ulster had nineteen different players togging out in green, or training in Irish camp this calendar year.
For this article, I will focus on the ten guys who have featured in the three November games so far; but it would be a huge error if I did not start by acknowledging all of the guys who got their chance, i.e., the Emerging Ireland tour.
As listed above, young prodigies like Callum Reid, Cormac Izuchukwu, Michael McDonald, Jake Flannery, and Ethan McIlroy all got a chance down in South Africa, as did Stewart, Doak and Moore, who were called in to train with the main squad before the South African game. Although that octet are unlikely to break into the main squad in the next twelve months; they are all primed to at least be in the reckoning come 2024.
Game 1: Ireland ‘A’ v New Zealand XV (6)
Tom O’Toole, Nick Timoney, Jacob Stockdale, James Hume, Mike Lowry; Marty Moore
The opening game of Ireland’s four game November schedule will hopefully be the least memorable, as an incohesive Ireland ‘A’ side were outclassed by the impressive New Zealand XV 47-19.
The six Ulster players involved that night were no different. Tom O’Toole and Nick Timoney managed to shake off a poor night for the Irish pack to break into the matchday twenty-three to face Fiji, while Marty Moore scored a first try for Ireland, in a first appearance since 2015.
In the backs, it was a similarly shaky night for Hume, Stockdale, and Lowry. None of which appeared to light it up and will be looking to bounce back and be re-integrated into the Six Nations squad.
Game 2: Ireland v South Africa (4)
Stuart McCloskey, Robert Baloucoune; Rob Herring, Kieran Treadwell
Whereas the Friday clash was a night to forget for many; Saturday was the one we will never forget. A famous win over the world champions was as ferocious as it was enjoyable, with Ireland grinding it out despite losing three starters to injury in the first half.
One of those to cry off early was Ulster’s much-loved centre, Stuart McCloskey. It was a rip-roaring start from the “Bangor Bulldozer” where he made nine tackles and beat three defenders in his brief twenty-seven-minute cameo. Enniskillen’s flying winger Robert Baloucoune didn’t make as much of an impact as we know he can, but in just his third cap; he proved he too is more than capable at this level.
Off the bench, Rob Herring and Kieran Treadwell played a part in seeing out the Irish win. Treadwell deserves a special shoutout for his stellar year in green. Having been frozen out in the international wilderness, the powerful second row made his ninth appearance in green last weekend, in which he played in all five of Ireland’s summer games. From nowhere, the Ulsterman is putting his hand up for selection for the World Cup next year.
Game 3: Ireland v Fiji (6)
Rob Herring, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, Stuart McCloskey, Robert Baloucoune; Tom O’Toole
The most recent game of the slate was not one for the purists, or the spectators. A sloppy and inaccurate Ireland were convincing in scoreline but not style as they defeated the Fijians by 35 to 17.
However, the Player of the Match was an Ulster man, as backrower Nick Timoney picked up the gong and two tries in an impressive showing. In just his third cap, Timoney beat three defenders in eleven carries, while making thirty-six metres; while also making twelve of his fifteen tackle attempts. His forward comrades Rob Herring and Kieran Treadwell also did well on a day where Ireland’s pack were utterly dominant.
Out wide it was a return to the starting lineup and form for Stuart McCloskey and Robert Baloucoune. The winger grabbed his second try in green in the first half, with centre McCloskey impressing once again. After Finlay Bealham’s superb showing against South Africa, Tom O'Toole would have liked to stamp down a marker from the bench, but the game fizzled out not long after his 50th minute introduction.
With one game still remaining this Saturday night against Australia, it has been a great year so far for the Irish rugby team. Even a defeat in Dublin could be swept under the rug, and dampen the fever pitch expectations. As things stand, Ireland are on top of the world rankings, and in flying form.
Meanwhile their Ulster contingent will head back to Belfast quite happy with how things are unfolding. Flying high in the league, training with the Ireland squad; with some of which on the cusp of breaking into the first fifteen. With the standard of depth at an all time high, every one of the seventy plus players used by Ireland, Ireland ‘A’ and Emerging Ireland, and those on the fringes, will know they must keep performing if they want to be busy in February.
