SEIZE THE DAY
Don’t waste precious Slam opportunity, urges Schmidt
JOE SCHMIDT has called upon his Irish heroes to seize the ‘precious’ opportunity that awaits against England on Saturday.
There were no extended celebrations from the Irish team after they clinched the championship on Saturday night.
A third straight bonus-point victory at home, coupled with England’s defeat to France in Paris, left Ireland nine points clear at the top of the table with a round of games still to play.
It is as emphatic an illustration of the quality of an Irish side we have ever seen, but the rare opportunity of a Grand Slam now awaits in Twickenham.
And Schmidt urged his players, and particularly the emerging stars like James Ryan, to understand that these days do not come along often.
Johnny Sexton reflected on Saturday night that he played on a team contesting a Triple Crown in 2010 and lost out, mistakenly believing he would have many opportunities to win one. He is still waiting for his first.
‘There are kids like James who need to understand what Johnny said,’ said Schmidt.
‘They need to understand that this doesn’t happen very often. This is incredibly tough to do and the opportunity that exists next week is really precious.’
It seems certain that Ireland will face their toughest challenge of the spring in London. England lost their two away matches in the tournament, to Scotland and France, and it will wound them to see Ireland overtake them as the premier team in the
northern hemisphere. They will also be motivated by what happened in Dublin 12 months ago, when Ireland beat England to prevent Eddie Jones’ team completing a Grand Slam. ‘I think they’re going to be really dangerous,’ said Schmidt. ‘The personnel that they have, I’ve seen them play often enough, I actually watched them train with the Lions and they have an exceptional level.’ Ireland should be boosted by what appears a clear injury list following the win against Scotland. Schmidt reported nothing more than bumps, bruises and fatigue, and while rumours persist that Sexton suffered with back spasms before kick off on Saturday, when Munster out-half Ian Keatley was available to step in, he will be certain to lead from the front in five days’ time. England’s troubled Six Nations campaign was plunged into deeper turmoil last night when Courtney Lawes and Nathan Hughes were both ruled out of the last game against Ireland. Injury has been added to the insult of a 22-16 defeat against France in Paris, as two of the national team’s leading forwards suffered knee damage. Both Lawes and Hughes — who was helped off in the 24th minute — have been left out of a 32-man squad for Saturday.