Schmidt’s vision is elevating Ireland to new levels
Over the three week period when the Springboks, Fijians and Pumas came to town, Joe Schmidt experimented with 29 different players in his starting line-up. That is as it should be, given the accepted mid series opportunity to give the shadow or Wolfhounds XV a run.
In the games of most consequence, against South Africa and Argentina, there were but three changes with two by design. Adam Byrne came in on the right wing for a first start ahead of the outstanding man of the match against the Boks, Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell replaced the lame Robbie Henshaw while James Ryan continued his remarkable rise alongside Iain Henderson instead of Devin Toner in the second row.
It was a typically prudent use of ever growing resources by the man at the helm. As one brought up on the reality of Irish rugby, where of necessity we lived in the here and now and picked our representative teams accordingly, this now is a massive shift in emphasis.
The challenge for Schmidt of course is in getting the balance between picking a team with the strength and ability to seize the day, yet at the same time planning that little bit further down the road.
So, while taking a clean sweep in the Guinness three Test November series would of course have been at the top of the agenda, rest assured the upcoming Six Nations and working towards Japan 2019 would have been very much to the fore in his mind.
That, I repeat, is a new departure and a very definite reflection as to where Schmidt has taken the shop window side since taking control. Both Eddie O’Sullivan and Declan Kidney contributed significantly to the foundation, but our most treasured Antipodean coach has taken it to another level again.
The 2018 Six Nations will present a massive challenge given that we start in Paris and finish in London, with a couple of feisty Tests on our home patch in between.
Had the eagerly awaited jewel in the northern hemisphere crown been commencing in December and not February, I would suggest a match day 23 in the head coach’s mind along the following lines: R Kearney; A Conway, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J Stockdale; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best (Captain), T Furlong; I Henderson, D Toner; P O’Mahony, S O’Brien and CJ Stander with likely replacements J Tracy, J McGrath, John Ryan, James Ryan, J Conan or J van der Flier, K Marmion, I Keatley and K Earls.
With Rhys Ruddock (along with Joey Carbery) most likely ruled out, the back row forward replacement role is critical, while Earls, despite injury, will have to come back into the mix either as a starter on the right or as a possible replacement depending on the needs at full back. Jared Payne appears highly unlikely to be involved so, in addition to Conway, Jacob Stockdale looks the most obvious winner from the November series.
But there were others to put up their hands, and in most every case that has been substantiated by provincial form in the back to back Champions Cup matches since.
In midfield, Connacht’s Bundee Aki had, as expected, a hugely accomplished maiden run against the Springboks. It was nothing we hadn’t anticipated as he is that good and instantly influential. His second run against the Pumas was a little less fluid, with new midfield partner Chris Farrell by far the more impressive on the day. I was working on commentary alongside Ulster centre Darren Cave for the BBC and he specifically mentioned to me beforehand to watch out for Farrell’s distribution.
By contrast the otherwise outstanding Aki came up a little short in that key respect at this level on that day. More questions than answers perhaps but whatever else Farrell was and is now a serious contender.
At the coal face, James Ryan looks to the manor born. He is still feeling his way but much like Paul O’Connell in his time the feeling is of small steps with giant ones to follow. Expect him to make the match day cut. There too should be Dave Kilcoyne. While all the talk is whether it will be either Lion, Healy or McGrath, Kilcoyne is moving ever closer in the onset of a three prop battle.
He, Stephen Archer and John Ryan are now to Munster what Healy, McGrath and Tadhg Furlong are to Leinster... a near embarrassment of riches.
We are also richly endowed at hooker, but here is one of the few areas in which I differ with Schmidt and by extension Simon Easterby and Greg Feek.
Best is the captain supreme, and no argument there, but as an impact replacement Sean Cronin is as close to perfection as is possible in that role. Perhaps there is some technical reason for his continued omission, but for me Cronin would be a nailed on certainty for a mid-match role off the bench.
And what of Conan the Barbarian? I use that name deliberately because I detect a perception of Jack being more about carrying and racing in for tries, whether wearing six or eight, from 50 metres and more.
Nothing could be further from the truth as the Exeter games illustrated fully. Conan’s work ethic, specifically off the ball, is on a par with both CJ Stander and Jamie Heaslip at their very best. He is more than worth a place in the 23.
Our back row combination is as good and as finely balanced as any other combination in world rugby bar none, and I have no issue with O’Mahony, O’Brien and Stander lining out in those positions against France, but Conan (save for the need for a specialist openside a la Van der Flier in reserve) should be a shoo-in on current form to the match day squad.
Against Exeter and Leicester, both No.8’s were superb.
The one final name I would add is Luke McGrath. He is on fire for Leinster and edging Kieran Marmion as shadow to the incomparable Murray. Has Irish rugby ever been in better shape?