Schmidt backs decision to send out for back-up after his side beats Japan
IRELAND head coach Joe Schmidt has sympathised with Warren Gatland’s decision to call up six players as cover for the British and Irish Lions’ forthcoming midweek games against the Chiefs and the Hurricanes.
Schmidt’s side followed up their 55-19 demolition of the US Eagles with a seven-try trouncing of Japan at Ecopa Stadium. Keith Earls, Jack Conan and Dan Leavy all bagged braces, with Garry Ringrose adding a late fivepointer. Ryuji Noguchi, Kenki Fukuoka and Yutaka Nagore crossed for secondhalf tries for the home side, but Ireland won easily.
Afterwards Schmidt backed Gatland, who has called on Welsh quartet Gareth Davies, Cory Hill, Tomas Francis and Kristian Dacey as well as Finn Russell and Allan Dell of Scotland to protect his squad for Saturday’s Test opener with the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Wales and Scotland are currently based in Auckland and Sydney respectively, with the proximity of those players having a major bearing on the selection criteria. Only Russell was given a real chance of making the original party.
The decision has attracted a furious response, with England head coach Eddie Jones blasting Gatland for selecting players based on ‘geographical proximity’ rather than merit after his players, who are in Argentina, were overlooked.
‘I just think it’s practical,’ said Schmidt, following Ireland’s 50-22 victory in Shizuoka. ‘I do, because if I was trying to coach a team to play the All Blacks and I didn’t get five or six of them until the Thursday when they have recovered from a fairly bruising match on the Tuesday we know from our experience of playing the All Blacks that it is a 23-man game.
‘You have to have a fully-fit group who have had the full
preparation of the week. Personally, I do see that making sense.
‘I have had no contact from the Lions at all,’ he added. ‘I can say that.’
Schmidt was pleased with the win over Japan and he expects all his players to be fit for Saturday’s rematch in Tokyo, despite Simon Zebo, Paddy Jackson, Luke McGrath, Finlay Bealham, Leavy, Rhys Ruddock and Cian Healy leaving the field with injuries yesterday.
‘On the back of a strong scrum we managed to control a lot of the first half, but you saw how dangerous the Japanese team are when they get time and space on the ball. They were super in the last quarter of the game,’ Schmidt said.
‘I don’t think there is anything serious for us.’ he added of the injuries. ‘A couple of blood injuries but they seem fine.’