Picture the scene this week in The Campus, Ireland’s training base in Portugal. Andy Farrell is sitting in a coaches’ meeting. Scrum coach John Fogarty has his head in his hands. Between them sits a laptop and a single, brutal question: who the hell plays loosehead against France this Thursday? Let’s imagine the conversation. “We’ll start with the obvious,” Fogarty says. “Who cleared Jack Boyle to play in Galway last weekend? I know he’s only had six starts all season, but against Connacht on a Saturday evening?” “He needed game time, John. We all agreed.” “Well, that decision worked brilliantly.”…
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