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Will Addison believes Ireland boast enough creative talents to thrive in a twin play-making system at the World Cup.<\/p>\nWill Addison believes Ireland boast enough creative talents to thrive in a twin play-making system at the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Connacht\u2019s Jack Carty will jump ahead of Ross Byrne in the World Cup selection stakes with a positive showing at fly-half in Saturday\u2019s warm-up clash against Wales in Cardiff.<\/p>\n
Byrne struggled in Ireland\u2019s record 57-15 loss to England at Twickenham last weekend and has not made the bench for the Principality Stadium trip.<\/p>\n
Addison will start at full-back but also cover fly-half, with center Garry Ringrose also an option to step in at 10 off the bench.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a couple of guys who like to play-make in our backline and I think it\u2019s something we\u2019ve done really well over the last 12 months. Guys have stepped in at 12, 10, wherever across the backline,\u201d said Addison.<\/p>\n
\u201cJordan Larmour has done brilliantly there as a second receiver and there are other guys too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve stepped in at 10 in the past at Sale and I\u2019ve done it with Ulster the odd bit of time and, yeah, if it happens, you\u2019ve got to be ready for it, as I\u2019m sure Garry Ringrose will be ready for it too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Utility back Addison has featured in cameos at fly-half with Ulster, though Leinster star Ringrose has not played 10 since school.<\/p>\n
Head coach Joe Schmidt is clearly boosting Ireland\u2019s emergency options by challenging Addison and Ringrose to cover fly-half this weekend, but any World Cup injuries and one or both just might find themselves piloting the backline in Japan.<\/p>\n
Premier playmaker Johnny Sexton is yet to feature in Ireland\u2019s World Cup warm-up schedule, having suffered a thumb problem and then a minor leg concern.<\/p>\n
Ireland still expect their British and Irish Lions talisman to be at full tilt for the World Cup kick-off, against Scotland on September 22.<\/p>\n
Joey Carbery remains in a race against time to be fit from ankle trouble for that opening Pool A encounter. The Munster star\u2019s injury concern means Ireland are likely to take a third recognized 10, leaving the door open for Carty or Byrne.<\/p>\n
An Ireland backline driven by either Addison or Ringrose at fly-half might receive an injection of pace and a desire for direct running though, which Schmidt will doubtless hope can hand his attack an entirely different dimension.<\/p>\n
England Under-20s graduate Addison boasts just three Ireland caps but Schmidt prizes his versatility and attacking acumen extremely highly.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old now has one shot against Wales to impress and force his way into Ireland\u2019s 31-man World Cup squad.<\/p>\n
Schmidt described Addison as a \u201cJack of all trades and master of several\u201d on Thursday, and the man himself is happy to keep being valued for that versatility.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think throughout my career I\u2019ve always played a couple of positions,\u201d said Addison.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the start of my career I would have preferred 13 but played a good bit on the wing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou take the positives from that: because it helps you learn what your 13 is after, and learn what your 10 is after.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really see it as something that I desperately want to specialize because I just want to be involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment for me it\u2019s not about specializing, it\u2019s about enjoying any opportunity I get in whatever position it is and using that experience as a positive wherever it impacts on another position further down the line. I just enjoy whatever is thrown at me.\u201d<\/p>\n