With the end of the World Cup and provincial rugby once again taking centre stage in the form of the URC, Irish rugby is beginning to see what a world without Johnny Sexton is going to look like. With RTE's 'Against the Head' debating who could be in with a chance of staking a claim at the starting fly half role, which is arguably wide open for the first time in nearly 25 years.
Irish rugby has been blessed with a straightforward succession plan since, newly named IRFU high performance director, David Humphreys took the reins in the late 90s. Once Humphreys was replaced by a young Ronan O'Gara in 2001, it wasn't until 2009 that the position came in to question again with the emergence of Sexton. Since taking the starting role, Sexton has been Ireland's finest fly half and gone on to become the nation's most decorated player.
The Contenders
Now, Irish rugby faces the gargantuan task of replacing the great man. With Jack Crowley the front runner after serving as Sexton's back up during the World Cup, there are many other young 10s looking to make a claim at the starting role. The 22 times capped Ross Byrne and young superstar Sam Prendergast are the two main front runners at Leinster. They are likely to be in a great position to step in to the Andy Farrell's set up with 19 of the current Ireland squad hailing from the province.
Sam Prendergast practicing his golf swing... ⛳️ A sparkling @LeinsterRugby cross-field kick 🏉✨#BKTURC #URC | #LEIvSHA pic.twitter.com/Cfmh7xiuXc
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 28, 2023
Jake Flannery has produced some of the best rugby of his young career so far this season with Ulster, scoring his first professional try against Connacht on Saturday and controlling the game brilliantly in an impressively gritty and gnarled performance from a young team.
💥First try of the match goes to @UlsterRugby's Jake Flannery!
Flannery also secured all his team's points in the first minutes of the match 🔴#BKTURC #URC | #CONvULS pic.twitter.com/8F8IA3Sfww— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 4, 2023
While there is also now a space for some of the more experienced fly halves around the provinces. Joey Carbery had made a sparkling start to his 2023/24 season with Munster but is once again reported to have picked up an injury that is set to sideline him for at least a few months, another really tough break for him. While at Connacht, Jack Carty led an impressive comeback for Connacht on Saturday, capped off by a superb cross field kick to set up Kilgallen's winning score.
Scenes in Galway! 😯
The try that secures the win for @ConnachtRugby tonight!#BKTURC #URC | #CONvULS pic.twitter.com/1KcjQMZkXE— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 4, 2023
On Monday night, Bernard Jackman and Donal Leinhan agreed on a familiar name who may well have a serious shot at the starting position for Ireland, JJ Hanrahan.
'Against the Head' on Hanrahan
When doing a very impressive review of Connacht's attack, Bernard Jackman gave credit to Connacht's coaching staff and in particular new head coach, Peter Wilkins and new attack coach, Mark Sexton (Johnny's brother). He made special mention of Hanrahan's influence in implementing their new attack this year;
Now Hanrahan, he didn't play at the weekend because he was injured, but his first two games he was really central to this and maybe he's got a part to play in Irish Rugby
Presenter Daire O'Brien, referenced Hanrahan's journey and impressive career to date, "JJ's just the great survivor isn't he? I mean a dozen years and he just looks so at ease." Donal Lenihan also gave his thoughts on the former U20 World Player of the Year nominee;
You reach a point in your career, JJ (Hanrahan) was outstanding when he was at Munster but he had a whole lot of competition there. You had Tyler Bleyendaal and a whole lot of other player's around him. If you go back to U20 level, he was a contender for World Player of the Year.
He went off to Clermont and ended up at the Dragons but I think the opportunity he got to come back to Ireland, he's from close to Kerry originally... having two tens of that quality could drive you on to great things.
Jackman made another important point around age profile and not writing players off based on age;
The World Cup, I mean, the Deon Fourie story told us not to write people off, there's lots of time for JJ (Hanrahan) to fulfil his potential in an Irish jersey.
