IRELAND COACH JOE SCHMIDT insists out-half Jonny Sexton is fit and ready to lead the Irish backline against Italy. The Racing Métro man was ruled out of action for ’10 days to six weeks’ by his club after injuring a thumb in the loss to England. The Irish management always maintained Sexton would be in the selection mix and, indeed, he was named in the starting line-up at Carton House this afternoon.
Asked if Sexton was fit to play, Schmidt responded, “Absolutely.” He added, “It was a sprained thumb. He finished the game with it. There was a bit of bruising. The bruising is gone.”
Schmidt said Racing Métro were understanding with Sexton, both sides’ ‘shared resource’, before adding that there was some mix-up over the out-half’s fitness as the Top 14 side were on a mid-season break. He eventually got in touch with Racing coach Laurent Labit and the injury cloud lifted.
Peter O’Mahony has not been risked following a shoulder stinger and strained hamstring in recent weeks. “If this was the last game in the Six Nations we might have risked Peter,” the Ireland coach admitted. The flanker did not train fully today so caution, added Schmidt, was required. Schmidt also conceded that he considered making further alterations to his matchday 23. He said:
There was a decent temptation to make more changes. We think there are a number of players out there that have earned that opportunity but we’re trying to balance that with where we are at… it probably reflects the respect we have for Italy.”
Asked where he sees the future of Iain Henderson, who was selected at blindside, Schmidt said, “We’re muddling our way though that at the moment. He’s athletic enough to be a 6.” Saying that, Schmidt revealed Henderson — making only his second start — may feature in the second row later in the game as the management seek to see how we goes in both positions.
Ireland captain Paul O’Connell said, “Italy played really well apart from the second period against France. Pushed Wales close and lost to a last-minute drop goal against Scotland… they are playing with a lot of width and working a lot of moves off their 10.”
O’Connell added, “They have more strings to their bow than they may have had in the past.” A potential championship decider awaits in Paris against France but O’Connell urged caution. “We’ve been very careful not to get ahead of ourselves, win this game first and see where we are after that,” he said.
The Ireland coach and captain were speaking at the announcement of the matchday 23 to take Italy at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. O’Connell will once again lead Ireland and earn his 90th cap in the process. The Munster lock will still be 50 caps shy of Brian O’Driscoll’s total. The centre will pass George Gregan’s record Test caps tally once plays gets underway in Dublin.
There is only one change to the starting line-up as Henderson comes in at blindside for the injured [shoulder and hamstring] O’Mahony. There are two changes on the bench as Rhys Ruddock steps up to fill Henderson’s seat while Eoin Reddan replaces Leinster teammate Isaac Boss as scrum-half cover.
