THE BACKBONE FOR A BATTLE

JOE SCHMIDT has indicated he’ll keep an experienced “spine” in his line-up for Ireland’s clash with Fiji on Saturday.

After the record 38-3 demolition of South Africa at the weekend, the temptation will be there to mix things up and utilise his entire squad in the middle fixture of the Guinness Series – especially with Argentina to come the following weekend.

Peter O’mahony is the main injury doubt with an ear injury, while Keith Earls (hamstring) won’t be replaced for the next two games.

“When we first came in two weeks ago, we said bottom line is you’ve to earn what you get,” said Schmidt, who handed debuts to Bundee Aki and Darren Sweetnam against the Springboks.

“You’ve to really commit to what we’re trying to achieve and the energy levels have to be good.

“Guys have built to that really well, nobody’s let the side down. It will allow us to expand a little bit.

“But there’s a degree of comfort in that uncomfortable arena the Test match ensures exists for players to have a bit of a spine of experience, for guys who’ve been there and under pressure before, who know what the best decision is and everyone commits to that decision.”

Schmidt immediately switched to preparing for the Fiji game – and down-playing his side obliterate possible World Cup quarter-final opponents South Africa.

Schmidt insisted after the 38-3 demolition that he doesn’t have to worry about his players getting carried away by the result on Saturday evening.

“I don’t really guard against it,” said the Ireland boss. “They are a really level-headed group. I have to speak a lot less often than people probably think.

“They’re very much self-led. “They’ve a strong leadership group, a strong culture among themselves to keep their feet on their ground, to roll their sleeves up when it comes to training to make sure we can be as cohesive and accurate and combative as we can be from week to week.”

Schmidt added: “I’d have to say it is incredibly satisfying and a huge relief to have got the Guinness series off in the manner we did.

“You’re chasing first time results and this time last year there was euphoria at the end of the game.

“And by the time 2am came, I was going through the game maybe finding fault, finding quality and trying to build the quality and repair the fault because that is the practicality of it.

“I know it might take the emotion out of it, but it’s almost what you try to do when you’re coaching.

“I think for the players it has to be a little bit emotional, because they have to bring so much energy to every performance.”