STILL IN THE MIX
Schmidt: Axed O’Brien has an Ireland future
JOE SCHMIDT insists Sean O’Brien is still in the mix for the World Cup despite his shock omission for tomorrow’s Six Nations showdown with France.
O’Brien has been axed from the squad after a quiet outing against Italy, with Josh van der Flier promoted to starting openside flanker.
The 32-year-old is leaving Leinster to link up with Declan Kidney’s London Irish on a three-year deal next season, but Schmidt maintained that O’Brien remains on the radar for Japan later this year.
‘I think everyone worries about their place in any squad at any time,’ he said.
‘The problem for Sean is that he hasn’t really had too much rugby at any time and he was not happy with his performance against Italy.
‘He came on against England and he made a really positive impression and there is a temptation that you bring him in and he comes on and he makes a positive impression as well. I thought he
I’M NERVOUS already… 48 hours out,’ Joe Schmidt admits before the official business begins at Carton House. Schmidt set out his stall yesterday by naming his strongest possible side for tomorrow’s clash with France.
The Kiwi made 34 changes across the first three Six Nations games against England, Scotland and Italy, but he has reverted to type for this one. There are 13 of the side who took down the All Blacks last November, only Devin Toner and Kieran Marmion are missing. Fourteen of this starting line-up took to the field at Twickenham last season to secure a Grand Slam — Dan Leavy, who is still struggling with a calf injury, is the sole omission.
The experimentation is over, for now, and Schmidt is desperately seeking a performance and a much-needed injection of confidence into this squad. Ireland do not want to be heading to Cardiff next week still unsure of themselves. A Wales side with a potential Grand Slam in their sights will be waiting for them.
‘We aren’t happy that we have performed at a good enough level yet, and it is one of the things that is challenging for the players,’ the coach admitted.
‘One of the things next week is we will have a light training on Tuesday, then get one training on Thursday and then we’re into a massive Test match. We’ve had a little bit more time this week so we are hoping that this week will afford us a little bit more opportunity to be cohesive. And we have a few combinations who have played together previously that will hopefully will allow us to be more cohesive as well.
‘But when you do throw players in it is pretty tough for them. We train Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and then have a light captain’s run and that’s it. You have got to be up and running.
‘So I think those challenges are the same for all the teams but the more consistency you bring from week to week the more likely that you are going to be cohesive. It was disappointing that we have not found that formula as yet, with all the changes that we have made, but we will continue to search for it because we have got to be adaptable enough that we can make those changes.’
That very much sounds like a head coach who is looking further ahead to a bigger challenge. Yes, Ireland have an outside chance of securing the title in the coming weeks, but, in truth, the World Cup is the main priority now.
Schmidt looked very much like a man who has Japan on his mind. He has freely admitted that Ireland have not scaled the heights of 2018 yet. Tomorrow afternoon represents another opportunity to get the show back on the road.
Sean O’Brien’s shock omission apart, Schmidt has selected his best pack of forwards. The returns of Cian Healy, Rory Best, James Ryan and CJ Stander should add the ferocity and power that was sorely missing from the last outing in Rome.
Garry Ringrose’s return is timely; there is no question that he is Schmidt’s first choice for the outside centre berth.
‘I think for us Garry does tend to lead that defensive connection with the edge defenders who inevitably are usually the wingers,’ said Schmidt.
‘I think it’s quite tough for Chris (Farrell) to come in and he’s still trying to get up to full fitness really. Chris hasn’t played a huge amount so again for us he’s a guy who’s definitely still in our thinking and will be close to the team and will warm up with the team on Sunday.
‘But I do think with Garry’s experience, having been in the team a little bit longer and having a bit more experience, he’s obviously a slightly different player to Chris. I think that will inevitably help us. ‘At the same time, he has to contend with Mathieu Bastareaud flying through the midfield and Gael Fickou, he’s a big man. I think because he’s such an athlete people don’t realise the size of the man but he’s a very big, strong athlete so it’s going to be a challenging day at the office for our midfield.’ That’s the thing about this French side. They lack consistency and cohesion, but there are more than enough quality operators on that team sheet to cause Ireland problems.
Guilhem Guirado and Louis Picamoles rarely go missing in big games and there is added firepower in the form of their exciting young tighthead Demba Bamba.
Then there is the inexperienced but hugely exciting half-back pairing of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack. Both integral cogs in a resurgent Toulouse side this season, Dupoint, 22, and Ntamack, 19, started
their first Test together against Scotland in Paris.
Contrast that to Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton, who have taken to the field together on 51 occasions for Ireland.
Like a lot of this current French squad, they are an unknown quantity at this level. They could crumble under the pressure that Ireland — when they are firing on all cylinders — can generate on their home patch, or they could revel in the challenge.
‘I think whenever you get the opportunity to put some pressure on any players, anyone who is a strength can potentially be a weakness,’ Schmidt agreed.
‘It is up to us to make sure we don’t allow Antoine Dupont too much time and space around the ruck to get running, that we do stay very alert about the opportunity he might take to take a quick tap.
‘And it’s the same with Romain Ntamack. He has played a lot in midfield particularly at 12, so he is a ball carrier as well as a distributor and a good kicker of the ball.
‘He’s multi-faceted and if we are going to contain the various facets that pose a threat to us, we are going to have to be really well-connected and accurate around those two guys.’
It they don’t, it could be a nervy afternoon in the capital.