Ireland A beat Spain, world-ranked no15, 61-24, a result that looked far better a week later when England A scored the last two tries to beat Spain 29-25
Ireland XV’s Diarmuid Mangan (Image: ©INPHO/Ben Brady)
Given the number of selection “hung juries” after Ireland’s mixed November campaign, and with many senior squad players rested in the URC ahead of two European weeks, this round offers a real chance for fringe contenders to push their case for Andy Farrell’s attention. Chief among them are those from the Ireland XV that beat Spain.
That side defeated world No. 15 Spain 61–24, scoring nine tries in a match that was difficult to gauge at the time — though it looked far more impressive a week later when England A required two late tries to edge Spain 29–25.
Not all of the Ireland XV players are in action this week, but backs such as Robert Baloucoune, Harry Byrne and Jude Postlethwaite, along with props Michael Milne and Scott Wilson, are likely to be under close scrutiny.
At Leinster, attention turns to finding cover for the unfortunate Ryan Baird, who is expected to miss 12–16 weeks. Alex Soroka and Diarmuid Mangan appear first in line: Soroka a natural No. 6, Mangan a disruptive back/second-row hybrid.
“We enjoyed the week in Spain,” says 22-year-old Mangan, who starts in the second row for Leinster’s trip to the Dragons tonight. “It was good to come into a new environment and see things done slightly differently to how we do them at Leinster.
“It felt like a refresher, and I enjoyed the week. When I came on in the game we were defending a lot and Spain were putting plenty of pressure on us. I enjoyed the game — the atmosphere over there was very good. It was a good test.”
AT A GLANCE – WHO WILL ANDY FARELL BE CHECKING OUT THIS WEEK – AND WHERE? The Ireland XV side that beat Spain.15. Mike Lowry (Ulster) – Played 38 minutes against Spain but picked up an ankle injury. Yet to return.14. Robert Baloucoune (Ulster) – Two really well taken tries put his name on Andy Farrell’s lips this last fortnight. Starts at Benetton Friday.13. Jude Postelthwaite (Ulster) – 23 year-old centre, almost 17 stone, 240kgs. 80 minutes and a try against Spain. Starts Friday vs Benetton..
12. Dan Kelly (Munster) 24 year-old close-season signing from Exeter, on the bench behind Tom Farrell and Alex Nankivell against Stormers Friday.
11. Shayne Bolton (Connacht) – 80 minutes and a try against Spain which comes on top of being possibly man of the match against England A in the XV international in February. 10. Harry Byrne (Leinster) – Was chosen Man of the Match against Spain, also an unused part of the November Series senior squad, Starts for Leinster at Dragons Friday.9. Ben Murphy (Connacht) – Has a first-up battle with Caolin Blade to try and establish himself at Connacht before Test rugby comes into view.1. Michael Milne (Munster) – 26 year-old on the bench behind Jeremy Loughman against Stormers on Saturday.2. Tom Stewart (Ulster) 24 year-old, captained the Ireland XV, played all 80 minutes, starts at Benetton on Friday. 3. Tom O’Toole (Ulster) – Semi-regular Ireland squad member, on the bench on Friday at Benetton 4. Evan O’Connell (Munster) – 21 year nephew of Paul O’Connell, one URC appearance this season, as a sub against Connacht, before Spain. Not involved against Stormers.5. Darragh Murray (Connacht) – 24 year-old prospering in the second-row at Connacht, three from five URC starts, a try and 80 minutes against Spain.6. Alex Soroka (Leinster) – Powerhouse back-row, five URC starts already this season, selected for Dragons on Friday. The most to gain from Baird’s unfortunate injury?7. Ruadhan Quinn (Munster) – Six-three, 22 year-old, who has played three URC games and Spain at no7 this season. Rested this week.8. Paul Boyle (Connacht) – There has been a lot of attention of the hardy-performing westerners’ back-row, has his fans including Stuart Lancaster.Replacements: 16. Lee Barron (Munster) – Still looking to settle in fully at Munster following his late last season move from Leinster. Not involved vs Stormers.17. Alex Usanov (Leinster) – 14 minutes on the Leinster bench and 27 minutes against Spain so far this season. Behind Jack Boyle and Jerry Cahir and rested this week.18. Scott Wilson (Ulster) – Returns from injury to anchor the scrum against Benetton in Treviso on Friday.19. Diarmuid Mangan (Leinster) – 22 year-old, making his first Leinster appearance of the season, at Dragons, partnering Brian Deeny in the second-row20. David McCann (Ulster) – Ulster Player of Year 2023/24, starts at Benetton on Friday. 21. Nathan Doak (Ulster) – Battling to get himself across the gap to the senior panel, a place-kicker, able to cover no10, starts at Benetton. 22. Cathal Forde (Connacht) – 24 year-old Galway native, centre/out-half with many, many admirers on the Clan Terrace. 14 minutes as a sub against Spain.23. Zac Ward (Ulster) – Rugby Sevens star, son of former Ireland star Andy Ward, 42 minutes from the bench against Spain. On the bench behind Baloucoune and Werner Kok at Benetton.Ireland played two ‘A’ games last season, the first against England A and the second against Spain who are 2027 Rugby World Cup bound and who are ranked ahead of, for instance, countries such as USA, Tonga, Samoa, Romania and Canada.
Continues Mangan of the importance of the experience for individuals and for the collective: “For me, first and foremost, I was covering locks so set-pieces were huge, especially coming on.
“Do I bring that impact, impose that physically on the game and on people or not, get into the action, because you know, your set-pieces are your bread and butter.
“So just for me, focus, because there had been a try scored just when I came on, it’s all about adding that value around there, especially the scrum as well and then you’re just trying to get as many involvements as you can.
“You’ve trained all week so the training is also really important those weeks as well and then you know in the game that you’re on the bench, you’re not playing 80 minutes. It’s like you’re trying to do as well as you can training, then in the game you are trying to put your best foot forward and take the opportunity.”
It is, admits the 22 year-old, a rare opportunity to impress, you know the Ireland senior management will be watching and dissecting who did what. “Because, especially in my position, and in Ireland, these opportunities probably don’t come around all the time and you obviously have to take them but then, from a team point of view, I thought, the attack looked quite sharp against Spain,” he said.
“I thought the forwards put a very good platform for the backs, you saw Robert Baloucoune I think he got two tries in the corner as well.
“The attack seemed to flow nicely even though we had a short week and there’s lads from multiple provinces playing together so I thought we kind of, we were quite cohesive, really.
“I thought our tackle quite sharp, our defence as well, that it was quite cohesive. Obviously there was the odd thing…but it was hard to cover everything in those short weeks so I think overall the way we performed, it was quite good.”