James Lowe hopes to benefit from defensive improvement

Planet Rugby

Ireland player Garry Ringrose and James Lowe during the match Italy-Ireland in the Olympic stadium. Rome (Italy), February 27th, 2021 (Photo by Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio/Sipa USA)

Ireland wing James Lowe is looking to put into practice the work he has done in training as he attempts to develop the defensive side of his game.

The back three player is one of the most potent attackers in Europe and was rewarded for his excellence with an international call-up last year.

That was where Lowe’s frailties began to be exposed, however. Despite playing the opening four Six Nations encounters, there were consistent issues for the New Zealand-born speedster when the Irish didn’t have the ball.

It meant he was dropped for the final match of the tournament, one where they produced their best performance under Andy Farrell with a 32-18 triumph over England.

Unperturbed, the wing has gone away and worked on his weakness in training and hopes he can do enough to force his way back into the starting XV.

Elephant in the room

“My good things were really, really good but the elephant in the room was my ‘D’,” he told the Irish Mirror.

“I was still working on that. Still talking to people like (Keith Earls), who has obviously been through something very, very similar and now he’s the mastermind. Man, he’s the guru of it.

“So I was working at it but probably not working at it enough and it wasn’t until you’re whacked on the nose that you really realise maybe I need to, instead of doing maybe 25% of my work-ons on it, it has to be 40 or 50% of it.”

Training is one thing but producing it when it matters is another and Lowe admits that he will only know whether his work has paid off when he gets out on the field.

“It’s one of those things, I won’t know if I’ve figured it out fully until I’ve got bloomin’ Rees-Zammit trying to run around me or Hogg skipping around. That’s when I’ll really know but I’m looking forward to this season and getting into it,” he said.

“So Europe, I’m looking forward to Bath and Montpellier and then hopefully in November, say if I’ve been able to perform well enough and show I’ve worked on these things and then November is Test time and that’s where you sink or swim.

“I’m working at it diligently like a student again and I’m looking forward to challenging myself on the highest level.”

Defensive issues were part of the reason he missed out on international selection back in New Zealand, leading to him moving to the other side of the world and signing for Leinster.

Lowe could return home next year when Ireland face the All Blacks in a three-Test series and the wing admits it would be special if he could force his way into the side for those matches.

“It would be a hugely pinch me moment, for sure. Growing up I wanted to be an All Black,” he added.

“That dream wasn’t fulfilled but I could line up over there at Eden Park and try to run over a few people that I am very good friends with – that’s something that really excites me on so many different levels.

“I haven’t played in front of family and friends for so long that I could only imagine how they would feel as well.

“I know that the ball is in my court. It’s up to me if I go or not. If I don’t then it’s my own fault and I’ll accept that when it comes.”

 

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