Advertisement
Schmidt gets involved during yesterday's session. ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Preview

Schmidt's energy to push Ireland to win over Samoa

It may not be a perfect performance but a win is the minimum requirement for Ireland.

IT IS UNREALISTIC to expect fireworks from Ireland in Joe Schmidt’s first match as coach this evening, but a home win should certainly be the minimum requirement against Samoa.

The energy which the New Zealander has brought to the Irish set-up was palpable at Carton House this week. The players are excited at the chance to work with Schmidt, regardless of whether or not they have had a previous working relationship with him.

The photos of the new head coach taking an active part in the captain’s run at the Aviva Stadium yesterday spoke volumes. Energy creates energy; Schmidt’s obvious excitement at stepping into the international arena will rub off on the players. While it would be demanding to expect everything to function perfectly in Ireland’s performance today, there should be clear signs of the zest Schmidt has brought into camp.

Supporters too have been invigorated by the Kiwi’s involvement, with over 40,000 set to watch this game in the flesh and sell-outs against Australia and New Zealand still to come. There is a sense of needing to be there as this new phase for Ireland kicks into life. That should be reflected in a passionate atmosphere, with Samoa’s pre-game Siva Tau war dance sure to add another element to that ambiance.

Stephen Betham’s side is without Census Johnston, Daniel Leo and David Lemi, who would all have started this game were it not for their injury problems, while Gavin Williams may have been included in the centre ahead of Johnny Leota. Nonetheless, there is quality in the Samoa XV, particularly in the shape of scrum-half Kahn Fotuali’i.

imageFotuali’i's composure will be central to Samoa’s chances. ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan.

The Northampton Saints playmaker is an all-rounder with few weak points. He tackles, passes, kicks and organizes with excellence, while his running threat around the fringes will keep Ireland’s defence awake. Tusi Pisi can create magic at out-half with his dancing breaks from deep, although his kicking game is inconsistent.

Up front, powerful carriers like Taiasina Tuifu’a and Logovi’i Mulipola will test the gain-line, while hooker Ole Avei has the ability to hurt Ireland with a sharp offloading game. Openside flanker Jack Lam possesses an explosive fend and will look to steal Irish possession. Leo is a loss to the lineout though, and Ireland should have an advantage there.

Outside centre George Pisi will attempt to test Brian O’Driscoll in defence, but it is right wing Alapati Leiua who offers the most dynamic running ability in the Samoa ranks. The Hurricanes winger has the physical style of Hosea Gear in his prime and cannot be given space. As a team, the Samoan’s support play is alert, meaning they are swift to finish half-chances.

Ireland will be aware of those elements in the opposition line-up, but their focus will be on their own performance. It was encouraging to hear Jamie Heaslip articulate Schmidt’s desire for his squad to focus on the process of games, rather than the outcomes. Winning is vital, but it won’t come about without a clear attacking game plan that every player buys into.

Exactly what that entails remains to be seen, but it is hard not to think that there will eventually be loud echoes of what made Leinster such a success. Schmidt is a firm believer in the importance of passing in order to exploit space on the pitch, and the improvement of a man like Devin Toner speaks volumes of how that helped Leinster to move forward over the last three years.

Samoa’s most recent fixture was a 56-23 loss to South Africa, when the ‘Boks got great rewards from moving the ball wide accurately and quickly. Samoa do have a tendency to get narrow in defence, particularly from turnovers and broken play. As a result, there may be opportunities for Ireland to put width on the ball.

imageEvery one of the Ireland players needs to buy into the process. ©INPHO/Billy Stickland.

These Irish player have the skills to impose that type of game on Samoa and it would be thrilling to see them offloading and shifting the point of attack more regularly than in recent seasons. It cannot all be flair though, and Samoa’s defensive weakness in the air is likely to mean a degree of kicking from Jackson and Conor Murray. Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney are superb kick fielders and those tactics, from restarts and open play, can reap rewards.

Schmidt’s preference for high-tempo bursts of play across the 80 minutes mean efficiency at the breakdown is as important as ever. Chris Henry will feature prominently in that area, as will Mike McCarthy and Heaslip. Peter O’Mahony’s ball carrying is more powerful this season, so it would be unsurprising to see him sharing much of that workload.

Fergus McFadden’s place kicking solidity offers an alternative to Jackson off the tee, although Schmidt risks taking confidence from the 21-year-old by removing that responsibility. Meanwhile, having Sean O’Brien, Cian Healy, Ian Madigan and Sean Cronin to call on from the bench offers Ireland hope of finishing strongly. In Ti’i Paulo, James Johnston and Toulouse powerhouse Joe Tekori, Samoa have impact of their own.

Betham’s men should prove fiercely competitive, as long as the emotion of having lost Peter ‘Fats’ Fatialofa during the week does not prove distracting. Their big wins in the last year have been impressive, but did occur when the opposition were poor. However, there should be no underestimating the Samoan challenge; this is a motivated and skillful team. If they were to win, it would be no great shock.

Ireland are riding the crest of a wave presently though and their energy should see them to victory in the closing stages. It may not be aesthetically pleasing at all times, but a win in his first game as Ireland coach will leave Joe Schmidt a happy man tonight.

Like rugby? Follow TheScore.ie’s dedicated Twitter account @rugby_ie >

Ireland v Samoa: 3 key battles to get Joe Schmidt off to a winning start

Your Voice
Readers Comments
4
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.