Joe Schmidt has encountered problems that even he can’t fix Ireland need to be PITCH PERFECT
Typhoons and turf wars are the least of Schmidt’s worries — his team have to win big today against the Samoans
JOE SCHMIDT revealed something quite interesting towards the tail-end of Thursday’s press conference here in Fukuoka.
The looming threat of Hagibis – the super typhoon that is set to strike the north east of Japan today – has dominated the agenda in recent days with unprecedented match cancellations, confusion and controversy.
Amidst all the hysteria, you’d forget there is the small matter of a crunch Pool A clash against Samoa on the horizon.
After fielding question after question about team selection and severe weather implications, Schmidt was asked a softer question about his time spent in Samoa as a teenager.
The Ireland boss spoke of visiting his brother in Apia but — as is Schmidt’s way — he never passes up the opportunity to drop a loaded statement into a long-winded answer.
‘We were hosted incredibly well wherever we went and I would say I’ve never really felt humidity like it. It was oppressive when I went in January,’ he recalled.
‘I’ve seen the weather forecast hovering at around 22 degrees... for us that’s still pretty warm but the humidity hopefully won’t be what it was been in recent times where we’ve probably struggled a bit in those last couple of games.’
That was the first time that Schmidt or anyone in this Ireland set-up had admitted to struggling in the conditions of Shizuoka or the Kobe sweatbox.
Three years ago, Ireland took on the Springboks at altitude in Johannesburg and looked to have the game in the bag, leading 19-6 at the break with a 2-0 series win in their sights. Schmidt’s men would wilt in the rarefied air of Ellis Park, however, shipping 29 second-half points. The effects of altitude clearly had a debilitating effect on the players, but that line of questioning was shot down at every turn in the days after. It was the same after that shock Japan loss. It wasn’t the conditions that made Ireland look like a weary rabble in the second half, it was a lack of ‘accuracy’ and ‘cohesion’. Give over, lads.
In that subtle way of his, Schmidt finally admitted Ireland, for all their preparation, simply struggled to adapt to conditions that are alien to these players.
It would suggest that Schmidt — so meticulous and thorough in his preparation — has encountered problems that even he can’t fix at this World Cup.
Hagibis is just the latest string of curveballs that this squad has encountered. Schmidt expected some injuries but he did not foresee Robbie Henshaw pulling up with a hamstring injury during the first training session of the World Cup. Likewise, Jack Conan, while it remains to be seen if the gamble to bring a stricken Joey Carbery will pay off.
Then again, Schmidt did not plan to still be chasing a place in the quarter-finals at this juncture. If things had gone according to the masterplan, Ireland would be qualified by now with a host of frontliners kept out of harm’s way for next weekend’s crucial knockout tie against either the All Blacks or Springboks.
He wasn’t best pleased with the state of the pitch either, making the point very clearly in front of the cameras during yesterday’s captain’s run. The Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium turf looks dodgy to say the least.
Rolling out Johnny Sexton against one of the most physical teams in the world on an awful pitch was certainly never part of the initial script. But Ireland need a win here, with a resounding bonus point guaranteeing their place in the last eight next week.
Regardless of what transpires tomorrow, as the other Pool A meeting between Japan and Scotland hangs in the balance, our lads need a victory.
All the big guns are back. The first-choice front five featuring both frontline props and skipper Rory Best as well as the dynamic locking pair of James Ryan and Iain Henderson. The backrow resources have taken a sizeable hit in recent weeks with Conan’s departure and his replacement Jordi Murphy taking a belt to the ribs against Russia. Tadhg Beirne was brought to this World Cup because of his versatility and it looks like he is very much seen as a blindside flanker from now on. Beirne has been given the nod ahead of Peter O’Mahony.
The absence of Rhys Ruddock from the matchday 23 raised many an eyebrow at Thursday’s team announcement. The Leinster flanker was the pick of the pack against the Russians and looks to be realising his potential after years of injury problems.
The IRFU insist that Ruddock is fit and available and his omission is on form grounds. Is Schmidt holding him back for a potentially explosive quarter-final against one of the global heavyweights? Perhaps, but today’s battle with the Samoans looked tailor-made for Ruddock’s size and power.
Speaking of today’s opponents, Ireland will encounter a dangerous beast here in Fukuoka. Steve Jackson’s men have nothing but pride to play for but, as France and Wales found out earlier this week, a Pacific Island team with no fear and happy to have a cut is a dangerous proposition. Samoa do not have the same firepower in their backline as Fiji or backrow forwards to match Tonga, but they are a proud nation and have some quality operators in their ranks, led by their fleet-footed full-back Tim Nanai Williams.
A cousin of All Blacks sensation, Sonny Bill, he plies his trade with Clermont these days, but Williams was once a teammate of Bundee Aki back in his native New Zealand. The pair were part of a an exciting squad at Counties Manukau, coached by Jackson.
Aki and Williams met for dinner earlier this week, but old friendships will be forgotten once referee Nic Berry blows his whistle today.
Crucially, Aki has his old Connacht teammate Robbie Henshaw back alongside him.
Ireland’s attack has lacked energy and invention at this tournament, but Henshaw could be the spark that ignites this World Cup campaign again.