THE CENTRES OF ATTENTION
Local hero Henshaw misses his Athlone return as Schmidt considers options
THIS was supposed to be a very different occasion for Ireland, a rare homecoming for one of Athlone’s favourite sons. Not since he played for the under-20s in a championship game versus England in 2013 had Robbie Henshaw run out at Dubarry Park.
Yesterday was supposed to bridge that five-year gap. Instead, the star attraction was absent for a training session that featured four-seasons-in-one type weather in the midlands.
Saturday’s shoulder-bursting try and the resulting operation on Monday drew a red line under Henshaw’s planned return home. It was a pity. No matter where you looked at Buccaneers RFC on Thursday, there was homage to the 24-year-old’s stellar career.
Everything from a fantastic image of his 2015 try versus England positioned above the main bar, to a plethora of snaps ranging from his involvement in an underage All-Ireland win for Buccs, schools success with the nearby Marist, and his proud debut in America.
They simply adore their local boy who came good on the international stage with Ireland and the Lions.
Midfield disruption is nothing new on Joe Schmidt’s 52-game watch. Fifteen different players have made up 25 centre partnerships – with 17 of those combinations only ever given the one audition by the coach. What gives? Just before he raced away to catch the team bus back to the hotel, there was one final question to Schmidt aimed at getting an explanation as to why a sector so busy with traffic keeps on suffering from a high level of turmoil.
The coach insisted the injury toll wasn’t specific to the position, but still admitted to a sense of dread watching Henshaw charge at the line to score his second try shortly after half-time last Saturday.
‘Two of them were retirements really with Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll. In that first year that was part of the deal, that I knew Brian was going to finish and that he’d give it one more year for that last Six Nations, which was the fairy tale [an Irish title win] that not too many players get,’ said Schmidt warming to the hot topic of why Ireland’s midfield has such a high turnover.
‘Then the next year we had Robbie and Jared (Payne). They locked the midfield up and did a great job in creating opportunities for us in that midfield. Since then we have had guys come in and out because we have had injuries.
‘It’s frustrating that Jared has had a long-term injury, and that even now Garry Ringrose has come in and kind of partnered Robbie really well last year and now he is injured.
‘A lot of those injuries, Garry’s ankle injury for example, that’s incredibly frustrating because he was just getting back and getting his rhythm. It’s an injury that can happen to anyone in any position at any time unfortunately, so I don’t think it’s position specific.
‘A lot of wingers are more likely to do that shoulder injury that Robbie did just because they dive in at corners and someone lands on top of them. As he was going in to score that I had a very bad feeling.
‘I said in the box as he was going in to score it, “Don’t score Robbie”. We didn’t need the try, we need him, and it’s not very often a coach is saying that to a player quietly in a coaching box, but it is what it is
‘We will get really excited about the players we do have because we know how hard they are going to work on Saturday week.’
Judging by Schmidt’s comments about Chris Farrell and the Munster centre’s presence in Athlone after two matchdays as 24th man, the suggestion is the Aki/Farrell partnership, which is in that category of 17 one-off combinations, is set for its second outing in eight days’ time.
An Aki/Ringrose selection would mean a 26th different combination in the Irish midfield. Add in how Ringrose hasn’t played since January 6, and the inference is the No13 jersey is titling Farrell’s way.
Particularly as Schmidt revealed he shied away last Saturday from using the Plan B midfield of putting sub Joey Carbery on in the middle. Instead, when Henshaw exited, Jordan Larmour came onto the wing with Keith Earls pushed inside to midfield.
‘Joey certainly almost ended up at 12 last week. It was one of the options available. Instead of moving Keith in during the week (in training), we had run Joey at 12 so that if Robbie got hurt, Bundee could shift out and Joey could go in there because he is a good defender, is brave, is good on his feet, is smart in the system.
‘That versatility is something we like to have off the bench, it’s something that we previously had with Ian Madigan, having that player that could slot in. He adds a bit of variety when he goes in there.’
When push came to shove, though, Carbery didn’t play sub centre. Now the jersey vacated by Henshaw is Farrell’s to hold onto next week on the Carton House training ground.
Versatility is something that we like off the bench