SCHMIDT ON…

IAN MADIGAN

When his confidence is good, his passing game and his decision-making around the timing of those passes is good. It’s just getting that rhythm. The problem is rhythm sometimes takes a few not-sogood performances to come up with a string of good ones. Coaches don’t have a lot of time to endure a few not-so-good ones, so hopefully he can build through that confidence.

GORDON D’ARCY

Gordon’s keen to play but he knows his body and a breather now will benefit him as he tries to maintain his hold on the No 12 jersey when it comes to November. That doesn’t guarantee selection. It guarantees you have him competing at his zenith and you’ll have some other guy who will have had a bit of experience. I’m not sure what Gordon would gain by going to Argentina.

DAVID NUCIFORA

He [the IRFU’s new high performance boss] is coming out just in time for the first Test… but we’ve pretty much got our own agenda. We know what we want to get out of the tour and David would be supportive of that. He is going to have a bit of a look and get to know a few of the players and a few of the staff.

TOULON DOUBLE

It’s a little bit mercenary, a little bit almost soccer now that the big spenders are the guys at the top. At the same time, the two Irish provinces both had their chances. They were tough games but no tougher than in the past where those provinces sometimes got up. I don’t think there is any cause for panic.