JOE SCHMIDT TOOK his Ireland squad out from behind Carton House’s steel curtain this afternoon for an open training session in the Aviva Stadium.
Here’s how the Six Nations champs / RWC quarter-finalists are shaping up.
The squad wore ‘Keep Rugby Clean’ t-shirts for the session
This week, the Welsh Rugby Union was prompted to issue another strong stance against doping as they issued a two-year suspension to an amateur player after a positive test for benzoylecgonine in a pre-season friendly last August.
Josh van der Flier was among the uncapped contingent
The Leinster back row was back in the Aviva for the first time since the loss to Toulon.
Jonathan Sexton took some part in the session
Looks like Nathan White just caught Andrew Trimble raiding his stash of protein bars
You only clicked in for pictures of selfies? Here you go!
All part of the job, skip.
A few thousand tickets were sought for the event
And those inside the ground got a glimpse of the combinations Schmidt was testing out
And Stuart McCloskey’s skill
Paddy Jackson took the reins on the back-line
CJ Stander got to grips with some new line-out calls
Forwards coach Simon Easterby circles the wagons with his pack
Then the backs were allowed join in too
Valentine’s Day is still over two weeks away, but there was romance swirling in the air
Jessica Moraes is the lucky lady with Paulo Eduardo bearing the ring
We’re going out on a limb here, but we reckon she said yes
Thank God!
