Andy Farrell insists Ireland team to face Fiji is ‘not experimental’

Andy Farrell has made seven changes to his Ireland team to face Fiji, but he is adamant it is “not an experimental team”.

There are also two positional switches from the side that beat Argentina 42-12 last weekend. Ordinarily you would not tinker with a winning side. Farrell says some of the changes were forced on him, and he simply likes what he has picked for Saturday night at the Aviva Stadium.

Andy Farrell on his Ireland team

Speaking in Dublin on Friday, Farrell rejected the idea that this is a weakened side, as reported by The42.

“Continuity is good, but I don’t think there’s that many changes,” he said. “There’s a few that we would have had to have made, but I think in this game in particular I like the look of the team.”

Then came the line that answered the question before it was asked.

“I like the look of last week’s team, but this, I wouldn’t say it’s an experimental team by any stretch of the imagination. This is a good side that should perform on Saturday.”

Look at the names coming in and it is hard to argue: James Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park and Bundee Aki are hardly fringe players.

Who is in and who is out

Dan Sheehan is the big absence after his concussion against Argentina. Tadhg Beirne takes the captaincy, with Ronan Kelleher in at hooker.

Nick Timoney shifts from openside to number eight, and Mack Hansen moves from the left wing to full-back.

Ryan and Van der Flier return to the pack. Gibson-Park, Tommy O’Brien, Aki and Jamie Osborne come into the backs. The full XV and bench are in our Ireland team vs Fiji story.

The back row is where Farrell is short. Sean Jansen is out for the rest of the autumn, as we reported when Jansen’s injury was confirmed. Caelan Doris and Jack Conan were already ruled out of the whole window, according to RugbyPass.

From the farm to the Aviva

That opens the door for James McNabney.

The 23-year-old Ulster back-rower is uncapped and named on the bench, so he should get his Test debut at some point on Saturday. Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole and Sam Illo are the front-row replacements alongside him.

McNabney has played in all four of Ulster’s URC games this season. A knee injury cost him the chance of a call-up before now.

His route into rugby was not the usual one. He grew up on a dairy and sheep farm near Ballymena and was still riding horses while playing rugby at Cambridge House Grammar School. Eventually he had to choose.

Farrell clearly enjoys that story.

“I think it’s a brilliant story because it’s not a conventional way of coming through, from a rugby point of view,” he said. “Riding horses and farming until he was 16 and making a choice there.”

He also could not resist a dig at the size of the 6ft 5in, 120kg forward. “Obviously, for the size of him you would have worried for the horses at that stage, wouldn’t you?”

What Ireland need against Fiji

Ireland have never lost to Fiji, so anything other than a win would be a major shock.

The more realistic target is a bonus point. Ireland are third in the northern hemisphere standings, behind France and England, with three wins from four. Five points on Saturday would keep the heat on both before the final round.

Kick-off is 8.10pm GMT on Saturday 14 November. The match is live on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK and on Virgin Media in Ireland. Our Ireland vs Fiji TV guide has the details, and there is more Test news on our international rugby hub.

Ireland team vs Fiji FAQ

How many changes has Andy Farrell made?
Seven changes and two positional switches from the side that beat Argentina 42-12.

Who is captaining Ireland against Fiji?
Tadhg Beirne, with Dan Sheehan out after a concussion.

Who is James McNabney?
An uncapped 23-year-old Ulster back-rower from Ballymena. He is on the bench and in line for his Test debut.

Have Ireland ever lost to Fiji?
No, never.

What time is Ireland vs Fiji?
8.10pm GMT on Saturday 14 November at the Aviva Stadium, live on ITV1, ITVX and Virgin Media.