Shane Horgan Says The Ireland Change Many Have Called For Should Happen Against England

‘There must be changes. Heaslip may have to go’

Shane Horgan was very honest in his assesment of Ireland following their disappointing defeat to Wales on Friday, especially in his analysis of former teammate Jamie Heaslip.

The ever present back-row has had a mixed Six Nations overall, but was ‘anonymous’ according to Horgan on Friday night. Irish fans have been calling for the inclusion of Peter O’Mahony to sure things up in the line-out and Horgan thinks Heaslip may be the one to go.

I’m surprised Peter O’Mahony didn’t come on a little bit earlier and that it was Stander taken off. He was the most effective of the back row. In contrast Heaslip was having quite an ineffective game, where as the Welsh opposite numbers were outstanding.
Will O’Mahony start against England? It’s a big call. Schmidt has the option of playing Stander at eight and for this game I think the coach has more licence to make a change. The competition in the back-row is phenomenal and it’s been tough on a player of O’Mahony’s quality to be squeezed out.
I think Schmidt is going to have to change the team. There must be a consequence for losing to both Scotland and Wales, especially when we had the players to win both.
Heaslip has had a very effective season this year but he might need to step out.”

What do you think? Does he have a point?

[Sunday Times]

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