Jack Conan will earn his 49th cap for Ireland against Wales this Saturday, starting at number eight in place of the injured Caelan Doris. The 32-year-old Leinster man is a proven performer for Ireland, both as a starter and a substitute, and he is eager to make a significant contribution to the match. Conan is confident in his ability to cover multiple positions and bring energy and impact to the Irish team.
Jack Conan is set to earn his 49th cap for Ireland this Saturday, starting at number eight in place of the injured captain, Caelan Doris. The 32-year-old Leinster man is a familiar face in the Irish jersey, though he's often come off the bench rather than starting. Of his 48 previous appearances, 26 were as a replacement, including vital impact roles during Ireland 's Grand Slam in 2023 and their successful title defence last year.
While Conan has excelled in his bench role, he admits to always wanting to start. 'You always want to play, you always want to be giving it your all and I'd always feel like I'd have the most impact when I was starting,' he said. 'But I can't fault it, Caelan is an unbelievable captain, unbelievable leader, he is playing unbelievably well. He's going to be playing number eight. Peter is a more natural number six and Ryan as well in the first week, but I back myself to do that as well.' Conan is confident in his ability to cover multiple positions and make an immediate impact when he enters the game. 'And then my focus the rest of the week is just nailing my role when I get on and then bringing a massive amount of energy and impact and giving the lads around you who have played 50 or 60-odd minutes who are a bit fatigued, bring them a bit of energy, bring them a bit of voice, and then make an impact,' he explained. 'So they're looking at you, being like, 'Right, he is unbelievably up for this when he gets on, he's making a difference'. And I feel like that gives everyone a lift. It gives me a lift.' His most recent start for Ireland was over a year ago against Italy in the 2024 Six Nations. His strong form for Leinster has earned him a place back in the Irish starting side, and Conan is eager to show his value. 'I always back myself with the ball in hand,' he said. 'I want to get as many one-on-one opportunities as I can because I feel like that’s when I’m at my best. If I’m getting soft shoulders or get a bit of space, use a bit of footwork and get on an edge or something like that.' He has also developed his lineout skills, becoming a prominent jumper in recent seasons. 'It’s always an enjoyable challenge for me, something I know I need to constantly work on and an area that I feel like I’ve gotten miles better at over the last few years but am still looking to progress and work harder on through conversations with Paulie and working on my jumping technique,' he said
JACK CONAN IRELAND WALES SIX NATIONS CAPTAIN CAELAN DORIS LEINSTER
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