Former Ireland winger Shane Horgan has sounded the alarm on the state of Irish rugby, acknowledging a dip in confidence following tough losses to rugby giants South Africa and New Zealand. With the Six Nations on the horizon, the once-favored Irish squad is now a shadow of its former self, plagued by aging stars and fresh faces struggling to fill big shoes.
On The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, Horgan shared his concerns.
"Not everyone has the depth of squad like France or indeed England,"
he said. Highlighting the significant shifts in the team, he remarked,
"This isn’t the Irish team that was there a couple of years ago. They’re ageing."
The retirement of Johnny Sexton has left a particularly gaping hole, with newer players yet to rise to the expected level.
The playmaker position is particularly contentious. Horgan expressed previous optimism now turned sour: "We’ve got this issue at ten, that we thought we were going to be in this great position a year ago... And that hasn’t panned out like that at all." With young talents like Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley vying for the number ten jersey, this Six Nations is crucial for determining who might secure the role.
Meanwhile, the French team's selection strategy has raised eyebrows. Ex-France star Ben Kayser explained Coach Fabien Galthié’s controversial decision to omit experienced players like Damian Penaud from the 42-man squad. "Why is it useful for me to bring a guy, if I know that he shouldn’t be in a 23-man squad, to train and to be that training partner?" Kayser relayed from Galthié, emphasizing the preference for giving younger players exposure over seasoned veterans.
Discussing Penaud’s absence, Kayser pointed out the fierce competition from in-form players like Gaël Dréan and Théo Attissogbe. Despite Penaud's stellar scoring record, his exclusion sends a clear message. "It’s a kick in the butt for him to say, you do not have a guaranteed spot if you don’t [perform at club level]," said Kayser, underlining the high stakes in French rugby.
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Former Ireland winger Shane Horgan has sounded the alarm on the state of Irish rugby, acknowledging a dip in confidence following tough losses to rugby giants South Africa and New Zealand. With the Six Nations on the horizon, the once-favored Irish squad is now a shadow of its former self, plagued by aging stars and fresh faces struggling to fill big shoes.
On The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, Horgan shared his concerns.
"Not everyone has the depth of squad like France or indeed England,"
he said. Highlighting the significant shifts in the team, he remarked,"This isn’t the Irish team that was there a couple of years ago. They’re ageing."
The retirement of Johnny Sexton has left a particularly gaping hole, with newer players yet to rise to the expected level.The playmaker position is particularly contentious. Horgan expressed previous optimism now turned sour: "We’ve got this issue at ten, that we thought we were going to be in this great position a year ago... And that hasn’t panned out like that at all." With young talents like Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley vying for the number ten jersey, this Six Nations is crucial for determining who might secure the role.
Meanwhile, the French team's selection strategy has raised eyebrows. Ex-France star Ben Kayser explained Coach Fabien Galthié’s controversial decision to omit experienced players like Damian Penaud from the 42-man squad. "Why is it useful for me to bring a guy, if I know that he shouldn’t be in a 23-man squad, to train and to be that training partner?" Kayser relayed from Galthié, emphasizing the preference for giving younger players exposure over seasoned veterans.
Discussing Penaud’s absence, Kayser pointed out the fierce competition from in-form players like Gaël Dréan and Théo Attissogbe. Despite Penaud's stellar scoring record, his exclusion sends a clear message. "It’s a kick in the butt for him to say, you do not have a guaranteed spot if you don’t [perform at club level]," said Kayser, underlining the high stakes in French rugby.