78 days after his last competitive outing, Andy Farrell backs James Lowe to shine

"He’s a great player that’s right for this game."

Over 11 weeks after his last competitive game, James Lowe is straight back into the Ireland team and will make his Six Nations debut against Wales at the Principality Stadium. The Leinster winger has not played since Ireland's Autumn Nations Cup loss to England, at Twickenham, after sitting out to try and get over groin and calf issues. While Tadhg Furlong got some game-time under his belt, against Ospreys, last weekend, Lowe was spared that trip but still makes Farrell's XV for the championship opener.

"When you select a side, first and foremost, you want the right balance for the side and I think you can agree it’s a strong team, a strong 23 and one that’s raring to go at the start of a new competition... James has been in great form. It’s been seamless him getting back into action like most of the other lads. "In his position, Jordan Larmour hasn’t played much games either. Andrew Conway in the same boat. They’ve all come in fit and raring to go and up to speed on where we need to be."

The truth of the matter is, Lowe is a player that can offer Ireland real punch and unpredictability in attack. The Irish pack is one built for an arm-wrestle with the Welsh, so Farrell is relying on dynamism from his backline. Despite only playing four games this 2020/21 season, Lowe has four tries. He is a finisher, and that is what this team needs. "Most teams are in that predicament as well," Farrell replied when asked if some teams were going in with players lacking minutes. "We asked the boys to make sure at the end of the autumn that, come the Six Nations, they were fit and healthy and raring to go and to perform at the top level, what’s needed to compete with the best of the Six Nations. And we like what we have seen from all of the squad really." On the other big calls in the Ireland matchday squad, Farrell said the midfield pairing of Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose was 'a partnership that you would hope would grab hold a competition like this and show everyone what they’re about'. Billy Burns, the Ireland coach said, provides a touch more dynamism off the bench while fingers are crossed that Caelan Doris may yet be given the all clear to be considered for the France game, next weekend. And while many expected Will Connors to start at openside, Farrell explained why his Leinster teammate Josh van der Flier got the nod:

"Josh was on the bench for us a couple of times in the autumn, he came on and made some magnificent impacts within the games. He has a fantastic running game, he really punches onto the ball well. He’s going to add something in that regard. His all-round game is pretty strong and we feel this is the combination to go with this weekend."

During the match build-up, several outlets and pundits have been dismissive of a Welsh side that were Grand Slam champions as recently as 2019. "Between the two camps we know the truth," Farrell commented. "We know it is going to be a war of attrition at the weekend."

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