Izuchukwu: It’s A Much Younger Squad, But Lads Have Really Stepped Up

‘Something special’ is how Cormac Izuchukwu described the Emerging Ireland tours, as he gave their current trip to South Africa the full five stars ahead of Wednesday’s final match against the Toyota Cheetahs (kick-off 7pm local time/6pm Irish time – live on irishrugby+).

This is Izuchukwu’s second Emerging Ireland tour and he has made the most of the experience, gaining starts at blindside flanker and in the second row, playing 130 minutes in all, and scoring a try during the opening win over the Airlink Pumas.

During their hard-fought 29-24 victory over Western Force on Sunday, he gained 28 metres from nine carries, broke five tackles and beat five defenders, made 13 tackles from 14 attempts, and won 10 lineouts.

It may be a short three-match series, but the 24-year-old has seen how beneficial it has been for the players to get game-time together in a green jersey, whilst working with the national coaches and playing to the national team’s tactical and technical approach.

“These trips are something special, to be honest,” he said. “Being around people like Paulie (O’Connell), Simon Easterby, and stuff like that. They’re unbelievable coaches obviously, the best in the world.

“On this trip especially, it’s a much younger squad but lads have really, really stepped up. Even the coaching as well is a higher level above.

“Some of the young lads, as young as 19, 20, most lads in Academies, they’ve been playing unbelievable.”

Izuchukwu was part of a tight five against Western Force that included 19-year-old prop Alex Usanov. The Leinster Academy loosehead scrummaged well against a 31-times capped Wallaby in Tom Robertson, and has been rewarded with another start tomorrow.

With the games coming thick and fast, Easterby’s charges are being thoroughly challenged in a national team environment and in a tour setting, one which ‘Izzy’ is quite familiar with given both himself and Sam Prendergast toured South Africa with the Ireland senior squad last summer.

Shortly after the 2022 Emerging Ireland campaign, he was rewarded for his progress with a contract extension to keep him at Ulster until at least 2026. Under Richie Murphy, he enjoyed an extended run in the Ulster side at blindside flanker at the backend of last season.

His current stint in Bloemfontein has afforded the former Ireland Sevens international an opportunity to show his leadership qualities, given he now has 30 Ulster caps to his name, and has that recent time in camp with Andy Farrell’s men under his belt.

He has enjoyed that aspect of this Emerging Ireland tour, and also points to the influence of tour captain Alex Kendellen and talented playmaker Prendergast.

“I kind of like to lead by example, more so than words. Kind of similar to Alex, like he’s a savage player. (He) put in some serious shifts in these last two games.

“Obviously I think Sam is a world class player. He’s an unbelieve general around the pitch, and his kicking is class. It’s been really good (playing with them).”

While noting that the players need to keep getting better for the tour finale, Emerging Ireland head coach Easterby described the 29-24 success against Western Force as ‘a really big result for us as a team that’s only been together for 11 or 12 days’.

He was particularly pleased with a strong first half showing which delivered tries from Jude Postlethwaite, Ireland Sevens Olympian Chay Mullins, Sean Jansen, and player-of-the-match Kendellen.

A strength-sapping and scrappy second period saw the Force rally and get within five points of Emerging Ireland on three separate occasions. However, Kendellen typified the team’s defensive grit with a crucial late turnover to seal the result.

Coming up against players with Super Rugby experience, and some with international caps like Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Nic Dolly, Sam Carter, Darcy Swain, and Robertson, was of huge value to this Emerging Ireland selection.

Easterby’s matchday squad included 10 current members of provincial Academies, with the starting front row amongst them, and five players who played in last summer’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship – Usanov, Danny Sheahan, Evan O’Connell, Sean Edogbo, and Hugh Gavin.

Reflecting on the second tour victory and the mood in camp ahead of the Cheetahs clash, Izuchukwu said: “It was obviously a really tough game in tough conditions. Obviously playing at altitude for a start, it was like 28 degrees and we had a couple of water breaks which was a great touch too.

“The lads really stepped up. Western Force are a class team, they’re playing Super Rugby and have been in it for a long time.

“There’s a bit of history there. They’ve been putting in some good performances lately, so happy for the lads to get the win.

“It’s been a really short time from last Wednesday when we joined up. Every game has been going one level above, again and again.

“Hopefully on Wednesday we can get to that next level, the final level, and make it three from three.”