Jamison Gibson-Park reckons controlling the skies will be key to the outcome of Ireland's opening Guinness Six Nations game against England.
One-on-one contests for the ball in the air are now much more prominent in the game.
Not a new law, but since November referees have been hot on penalising blankets of slow-moving team-mates who are hanging around the general vicinity to protect the receiver of high kicks in the backfield.
Steve Borthwick’s side made an average of 29.9 kicks in play across their Test matches in 2024 and retained possession from 17% of their kicks in last year’s Six Nations, the highest return rate.
Ireland, by comparison, had the lowest, coming in at 6%.
The inclusion of 6ft 5in Freddie Steward at full-back, who played just three times for England last year, suggests that the visitors are also placing a high premium on the high ball.
"Yeah, it’s big, especially in this day and age," Gibson-Park, set to win his 39th cap on Saturday, said when asked about the aerial battle.
"We’ve touched on the new laws and it’s a massive contest in the air that can swing games massively so you are certainly going to have to be on it from a kicking game and an aerial game as well.
"That’s a huge part of the game, and hopefully we go well at it."
While team-mate Tadhg Beirne has hit out at the new rules, brought in mid-season, which afford scrum-halves more protection at ruck and scrum, it’s an amendment that suits the 32-year-old New Zealand native.
"I can see what they’re trying to do, they want a cleaner, faster game so I think it certainly makes sense from that point of view," said the Leinster back.
"I don’t mind it. I feel the forwards probably have a different opinion but it’s kind of the way the game is going.
"We’re probably one of the teams that would have tried to take advantage of being able to go and put pressure on the base [of the scrum] so that’s gone now, obviously we’ve had to rethink our set-ups and that.
"That’s all part of the evolution of the game. We’ve got a few clever guys who are in charge of us and that helps, and [full-back] Hugo Keenan and stuff, so he’s got a few bits for us."
"I think Simon [Easterby, interim head coach] has got a bit more to show us.
"It’s important to be able to get on the front foot and I suppose exploit these kind of rules in the game."
Easterby will name his first team at midday with all eyes on who gets the out-half jersey.
Leinster’s Sam Prendergast, who made his debut in the Autumn Nations Series, appears to be the front-runner, however, it wouldn’t be a major shock if Jack Crowley of Munster, who played all five games in Ireland’s winning campaign last year, got the nod.
Irish fans were denied the chance to see the duo go head-to-head when Crowley was rested for the teams’ December URC Interpro.
"I think it’s awesome to have such competition and getting cracks at each other, obviously we didn’t get it at Christmas time but yeah, I think it’s great for them," added Gibson-Park.
"They’re both going to be unbelievable players, so I’m excited to watch that down the years."
Ireland are going for a record third championship in a row, a feat never achieved in any format of the competition.
"It's an unbelievable time of year, it really excites me, it’s one that I always look forward to, and a lot of guys will say the same thing," said the former Blues and Hurricanes player.
"Springtime in Ireland is awesome. Six Nations is on, there is a great buzz around the place, yeah I love it.
"I’m still sick with nerves for the games but it’s all worth it once you get the results."
England grabbed a late but deserved victory over Andy Farrell's side last season, ending the team's shot at back-to-back Grand Slams.
Follow a live blog on Ireland v England in the Guinness Six Nations on Saturday from 4.45pm on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch Scotland v Italy in the Guinness Six Nations on Saturday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
