Schmidt has faith Cronin can put best foot forward
Joe Schmidt has backed Sean Cronin to put pressure on rested captain Rory Best when the 32-yearold hooker makes his full Guinness Six Nations debut on his 68th cap against Italy in Rome tomorrow.
Leinster’s two-time Champions Cup-winning stalwart has Ireland’s highest number of replacement appearances with 58 from the bench.
Best has been rested, along with the likes of Robbie Henshaw, as Schmidt’s side take on Italy at the Stadio Olimpico. Cronin will start, while Munster hooker Niall Scannell is among the replacements.
Asked if this was Cronin’s big chance to put the squeeze on Best, Schmidt replied: “I’m sure that’s his intention, as much as he’s very team-orientated. He will personally want to put his best foot forward.
“To be fair to Niall Scannell, he will want to do the same thing. Two years ago he was picked on the bench, Rory got ill the day before the game and Niall came in.
“That was really his big step on to the stage. He played superbly in that game. He’s just been in and out since because of various injuries. But both those hookers, it’s really interesting for us to have a look at.
“At the same time, they are up against the centurion hard man of the Italian front row in Leonardo Ghiraldini, and that’s a super challenge. I’m sure Sean Cronin’s excited. He’s trained well, hopefully that gives him confidence.
“He will have the confidence he brings from the 10 starts but also the amount of game time he has had over the years. It’s a great opportunity for Sean and one I’m hopeful he’ll grab with both hands.
“We named him to start the third Test in Australia but then he picked up a hamstring strain, which was a real shame. It’s not like he doesn’t know we’ve got faith in him.”
Best will miss just his second Six Nations match in the last 63, dating back to 2007. Peter O’mahony will captain the side from the back-row, with Jordi Murphy featuring at No 8 rather than on the flank.
Ireland will field the same back line that started the 22-13 win in Scotland, with Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton piloting the side at half-back.
Connacht fly-half Jack Carty could make his Test debut off the bench, with Joey Carbery sidelined. “Joey has a hamstring strain,” said Schmidt. “It would have been too great a risk for him to feature.
“We probably would have started Johnny anyway. He’s had one game and 23 minutes since the Munster game. He’s had very little game time, Joey has had a lot.”
Italy have been hit with another back-row withdrawal as Seb Negri has a fever. Captain Sergio Parisse was already out with a head injury. Maxime Mbanda and Jimmy Tuivaiti will start instead.