Schmidt settles on Carbery and Larmour
JOE SCHMIDT is set to name Joey Carbery at out-half and Jordan Larmour at full-back when he announces his team to face Italy at lunchtime today. The Ireland head coach sent a largely second-string squad to Chicago for Saturday’s clash at Soldier Field, and with frontline outhalf Johnny Sexton and fullback Rob Kearney (rehabbing from a shoulder injury) remaining in Ireland, in-form youngsters Carbery and Larmour are set to face Conor O’Shea’s men. Schmidt linked up with the Ireland squad last night as phase one of this November Test series kicked into gear. He’d spent the first half of the week back at their Carton House training base working with a host of frontliners including Sexton, Rory Best and Peter O’Mahony who did not board the flight to the States on Monday. Schmidt arrived in the Windy City late yesterday evening to oversee the final stages of his preparation for Saturday’s game against the Azzurri. Interestingly, forwards coach Simon Easterby revealed on Tuesday that Conor Murray is among that training group back at HQ. The Munster scrum-half has yet to make an appearance
this season as he battles a neck injury. His name did not appear in the 42-man squad last Wednesday but a dramatic comeback against the All Blacks on November 17 has not been ruled out.
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen could not resist some early mind games this week by intimating that Murray’s injury could be an ‘Irish trick’ and the man who tormented his side in Chicago two years ago could be back for the big one in Dublin.
Murray’s availability would be a massive boost to Ireland’s chances against the best team in the world but it seemspreposterous to rush him back. This is an opportunity for Schmidt to test the mettle of Luke McGrath, Kieran Marmion and John Cooney.
Ireland’s lack of depth was ruthlessly exposed at the last World Cup and the over-reliance on Murray has been well-flagged. Fast forward to a potential World Cup quarter-final meeting with the Springboks next year and imagine a scenario where Murray gets an injury in the build-up. Can the next man manage a game against the Boks at the top level? Now is the time to find out.
Schmidt has just 13 games between now and the World Cup opener against Scotland on September 22 in Yokohama and will use this weekend’s clash with a largely second-string Italian outfit to cast his eye on some of his fringe players.
Marquee Tests against Argentina and New Zealand loom large so this weekend’s encounter, and the final game of the autumn against the US Eagles at the Aviva Stadium, represent the best opportunity to blood some new caps as well as test out new combinations.
There will be little room for experimentation during next year’s Six Nations. Ireland will head into the 2019 edition of the tournament as defending champions and Grand Slam winners, and the expectation is that they will be fully loaded and ready to defend their title.
Rob Kearney remained at home this week to continue his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury suffered away in Treviso last Saturday. In his absence, Larmour will wear the No 15 shirt. His attacking talents are welldocumented at this stage; it’s the nuts and bolts of being a Test-class full-back that he will need to hone over the next 12 months.
Kearney remains the main man due to his superb aerial skills, positional play and reliable kicking game, but Larmour can make a big statement on Saturday.
Jacob Stockdale is another who could do with a runout this weekend. The Ulster winger has only got up to top gear in recent weeks having recovered from a knee injury in the summer.
Will Addison has made just five appearances for Ulster since his move from Sale Sharks but looks a classy operator. His ability to operate across the backline makes him tailor-made for that World Cup squad. He may have to wait for his first cap, however, with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose set to form the midfield.
Ross Byrne is also set to earn his first cap but it looks like that will come from the bench with Carbery set to be handed the reins at No 10 with Luke McGrath slotting in at scrum half.
Rhys Ruddock will lead the side on the blindside flank having looked so comfortable in the role during last summer’s tour of the US and Japan.