Ultan Dillane’s performance gives Joe Schmidt a selection headache

There has been a lot of negativity swirling around since Ireland’s jittery win in Rome last Sunday. Understandably so, given that this was the third game in a row where Joe Schmidt’s men have failed to hit the mark, causing spiralling doubt as the World Cup draws ever closer.

However, with that assignment in mind, there was one big positive – a 6ft5in, 18-stone one – to come out of the Stadio Olimpico in the resurgent display by Ultan Dillane.

After a lively contribution off the bench in the Murrayfield win two weeks previously, the Connacht man was in for his first Six Nations start against Italy and produced 80 minutes of superb, effective application.

There has been a lot of negativity surrounding Ireland’s jittery win against Italy last Sunday

Stand-in captain Peter O’Mahony was man-of-the-match, pictured here out-jumping Italy

Stand-in captain Peter O’Mahony landed the man-of-the-match award on the back of some big plays crucial to quelling the Italians and, on an afternoon of collective uncertainty, there were also decent individual displays from Dave Kilcoyne, Keith Earls and Jacob Stockdale.

However, Dillane was the stand-out performer in green. The second-row’s outing was defined by its energy – whether on the carry, at ruck time or in the vital lineout steal he produced towards the end of a game where Ireland’s air supply wobbled badly.

But it was in defence where the 25-year-old really came into his own, ending with a hefty tally of 20 tackles and, when the Italians had their dander up (particularly in the first half), Dillane regularly stemmed momentum by mowing down their runners with ferocious, low hits.

The vitality of Dillane’s performance was undoubtedly driven by the knowledge that he needed to make the most of this opportunity created by injury to Devin Toner, the resting of James Ryan and the managed comebacks of Iain Henderson and Tadhg Beirne.

This was a second chance for a player who did not play for Ireland for almost a year and a half, between starting against Fiji in November 2017 and his cameo against the Scots.

Keith Earls was one of Ireland’s players who put in an outstanding individual performance

It was a tough period for Dillane, his form suffering on the back of injury issues and the passing of his mother, Ellen, this time last year.

The arrival of Andy Friend as Connacht head coach in place of the disastrous Kieran Keane has helped revitalise Dillane and it was his powerful provincial displays which forced him back into the Ireland mix.

That second chance has become a second coming, so much so that Dillane now has the capacity to rejig the second-row pecking order with the jostling for places on the plane to Japan well underway.

Ryan is untouchable as first choice and Ireland’s lineout woes have reinforced the importance of his Leinster partner Toner alongside him in the front-line selection.

Behind those two, it is becoming increasingly clear Beirne (superb on his unscheduled return for Munster last weekend) has to be in the picture.

Beirne’s remarkable ability to win turnovers and all-round excellence are impossible to ignore, especially as his proven capacity to play blindside is ideal for the challenges in Japan.

Quinn Roux has started the last two Tests but, although the South African muscled over for a try last weekend and garnered praise for overseeing a decent lineout operation in Scotland, he lacks the relentless industry of his Connacht colleague Dillane. With Beirne back in the mix for next week’s clash with France, Roux could, and should, drop out of the equation.

Ultan Dillane was the standout performer in green against Italy, pictured tackling two men

That leaves Henderson, who is in danger of going from one of the established top two second rows to falling out of the top four.

The Ulster man’s talent has never been in question. At his best, Henderson is a devastating force in the loose and proved how he could mix it in elite company with some exceptional displays on the Lions tour to New Zealand in 2017 that nearly earned him Test selection.

The problem with Henderson is consistency. You are never quite sure which version of the player is going to run out for Ireland – the supercharged one that ripped into the English when the Grand Slam was landed in Twickenham last year or the listless, error-prone version of Henderson that went missing in the loss at Murrayfield in 2017.

It creates an intriguing juggling exercise for Schmidt and forwards coach Simon Easterby. With Ryan almost certain to return to the side against France, Dillane would be the form selection alongside him, with Beirne providing quality cover off the bench.

James Ryan is almost certain to return to the side against France after becoming untouchable

However, given his unavailability for the first three rounds, there may be a desire to give Beirne his head from the off against the French and there is also a degree of loyalty towards Henderson, who has won 37 of his 43 caps under Schmidt.

It would be harsh on Dillane if he is cut from the match-day 23 for France and potentially damaging to Ireland’s aspirations. He is a better lineout operator than Henderson and having Ryan, Dillane and Beirne on deck (however they are arranged) would provide the pack with a fierce energy and industry.

‘I love that the competition is as tough as it is now,’ said Dillane before the Italy match.

‘Tadhg, Iain, James and Devin are all in really good from so I can’t just expect to be up there, they are quality players.

‘You can’t look forward or plan ahead, you have to earn your way.’ Dillane certainly earned his way by playing a crucial role in helping Ireland get out of dodge in Rome and that merits reward – even if Iain Henderson has to lose out in the process.