SCHMIDT’S ENORMOUS STRENGTH IN DEPTH BRINGS WELCOME HEADACHES FOR AUSSIE TOUR SELECTION

WITH the Champions Cup semi-finals a few days away and the danger of a Scarlets/Racing final in Bilbao every bit as real as an all-Irish affair, it is the presence of two second rows that set me thinking ‘what If?’ in relation to the potential Ireland squad for the summer tour of Australia, writes TONY WARD.

Allowing for injury and the IRFU’s self-imposed rule of nonselection when overseas (unless your name is Sexton or Bowe), what if the following had been fit, firing and readily available given the match-day 23 that did the business so convincingly in Twickenham?

S Zebo (Munster); A Conway (Munster), R Henshaw (Leinster), C Farrell (Munster), A Trimble (Ulster); I Madigan (Bristol), L McGrath (Leinster); D Kilcoyne (Munster), N Scannell (Munster), J Ryan (Munster); D Ryan (Racing), TBeirne(Scarlets); RRuddock (Leinster), J van der Flier (Leinster) and S O’Brien (Leinster).

Add in Jared Payne’s injury while on Lions duty last summer and in he we had our most influential player in Joe Schmidt’s mind post Brian O’Driscoll.

Yet four players – Henshaw, Farrell, Garry Ringrose (pictured) and Bundee Aki – have all filled the midfield role so seamlessly since. It will be fascinating to see how Schmidt approaches the tour to Australia and the three-Test series against Michael Cheika, with his Wallabies champing at the bit.

The point being that Irish rugby is in rude health and while I suspect and agree that Beirne will be included ahead of lining out for Munster, my feeling is that the head coach will opt to travel with a full hand.

The alternative argument is that some – specifically, the Lions that toured New Zealand last summer and who have had a long season – be given a rest. But, given our current strength in depth, whatever squad Schmidt selects, it will be a formidable one.