JUST DAYS AFTER guiding Ireland to a second Six Nations title in two attempts, Joe Schmidt jetted off to the Southern Hemisphere with his family.
A well-earned break from the intensity of international rugby, but more importantly an opportunity to get some help for his young son, Luke.
Schmidt is back in Ireland now and put his foot down in emphatic fashion last week when addressing Matt O’Connor and Leinster’s complaints about the IRFU’s player management system.
This was the boss of Irish rugby stamping his authority all over the vocal dissent.
In terms of on-the-pitch matters, Schmidt is going over his World Cup plans with a fine tooth comb. The Kiwi is also plotting exactly how he will approach next month’s clash with the Barbarians.
Ireland face the invitational side, coached by Robbie Deans on this occasion, in Thomond Park in a non-capped match on 28 May. That’s just two days before the Guinness Pro12 final in Belfast, so it may be that Schmidt is denied the services of Ulster and/or Munster players.
Connacht will hope to have finished the Pro12 season in sixth position, but it might well be that Pat Lam’s men are involved in a Champions Cup qualification play-off game in that final week of May.
Indeed, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Leinster could finish in seventh position and instead contest the play-offs. Either way, it seems certain that Schmidt will be without at least one of the province’s Ireland-qualified contingents.
“One of the really pragmatic things was to get everyone to finish at the same time and for everyone to get the same four weeks off so that people will have had some rugby right up to that point,” says Schmidt of the timing of Ireland’s clash with the Barbarians.
“For us it was a chance to get a little bit of continuity. You know if it is two Irish teams [in the Pro12 final] then we will have the other two. Conceivably there could be three Irish teams in that, you could have Connacht playing off in that ERC [sic] mind-wave.
“That could mean that we would just have one team, so we would work with that one team so they could finish at the same time. It was as much of that as anything else.”
It all means that Schmidt hasn’t been able to plot out a possible squad at this stage, and will not be able to until after the Pro12 semi-finals on 22/23/24 May.
As a result, the Ireland selection will convene just two evenings before the fixture in Limerick. Schmidt says he and his fellow coaches are likely to use the non-Test match to work with players they know less about.
It is why the team will come together on a Tuesday night and play the Thursday night, it is a very truncated preparation window,” says Schmidt.
“Also, because we don’t know who we are going to be able to select until after those semi-finals the previous weekend.
“One of the really good things about it is that it will be an opportunity to probably broaden, a little bit, the playing base and work with some players who we might not have had time to get to know.”
Who would you like to see Schmidt call on if available for the Barbarians clash? Which exciting young players deserve an opportunity to wear an Ireland jersey, even if it’s a non-capped game?
Kieran Marmion is one name that would come to mind with the idea of broadening the pool of players. Scrum half is one position where Ireland need more options. Obviously Murray is first choice. But Reddan and Isaac Boss haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire with Leinster this season. Marmion needs more international experience, so this opportunity is ideal for him.
Too be honest Marmion’s form over the last 2 months has been a bit worrying for me. His box kicking aginst Glasgow was apalling and considering the strength of the scrum in the last 3 matches we should have been seeing more of his running game, but that seems to have regressed lately.
I don’t know if I agree with that I thought both Reddan and Boss have been pretty good this season. Boss was by far Leinster’s best back against Toulon. Having said that their respective ages make it imperative to find a replacement… I wouldn’t count out Tomás, he’s a talented player, I think he would make a strong replacement for Ireland going forward.
dark horse- Cooney
I would cancel Deans’ flight back out and put him in a blue tracksuit
Wasn’t he in the frame when the job was available?
Jesus Christ no! Don’t want him anywhere near Leinster
In short no , he was in the aus job
Whilst Robbie Deans was very successful with the Crusaders, he didn’t do much to bring on other coaches within the Canterbury set-up and was reputed to be very controlling. With Leinster currently employing a number of home-grown coaches such as Leo Cullen, Richie Murphy and Girvan Dempsey; I could see them suffering if Deans were to arrive.
Although both are unlikely, I would prefer to see Wayne Smith or Ewen McKenzie given the job personally. It would also be interesting to see Bernard Jackman brought into the fold somehow as he could liven up Leinster’s play around the rucks.
Getting Jonno Gibbes back from Clermont, where he’s forwards coach, and giving him the top job in Leinster would be smart!!!
I agree with Riocard, Gibbes would be a great choice, so would Jake Plumtree. As for what Evans saying, I think it was too ambitious to give Cullen the role as forwards coach, I think he would’ve been better served going to NZ and SA for a couple of years maybe pick up some techniques/ideas and then come back to Leinster.
Pity that it clashes with the final. There are a lot of good Ulster and Munster players who could do with some exposure. Donnacha Ryan, Keith Earls, Paddy Jackson, McClosky, Olding, Tuohy etc.
Agree, it’s a shame. Btw, Olding is injured and will miss the world cup.
Right you are Paul forgot that. What a shame. Would have loved to see him and Henshaw paired together with Sexton.
JJ from Munster cause we know Foley won’t play him.
He shouldn’t either, makes no sense trying a lad who is already certain to leave when there are younger lads that actually want to play for Munster next year.
One player i never hear about in these discussions is Denis Buckley. He has literally not been shown up in past 18 months, Guy Noves and Warren Gatland have both come out unprompted praising him yet is somehow 5/6 choice LH for Ireland. This puzzles me.
He has also outplayed his international standard interprovincial rivals in all but one of the derbies this year.
I really believe he should get a chance or two throughout the summer.
I suspect he is the kind of player that Schmidt refers to when he talks about broadening the playing base. Guys with a realistic RWC shout that haven’t had much time with him.
Not people like Matt Healy, Gareth Steenson, James Hart and Ryan Caldwell
I could be wrong but I was lead to believe that Caldwell doesn’t want to play for Ireland anymore. For political reasons.
Would to like to see exiles such as Steenson, Stringer and the Grenoble contingent.
I wouldn’t mind if Ulster and Munster aren’t available, because there are so many Connacht players Id love to see get a shot. Yeah there are plenty in Ulster and Munster but two birds with one stone, let those guys play get the experience in knock out rugby and let the others go to Emerging Ireland
Squad.
Would love to see the likes of Buckley, Ah You, Muldowney, Mkeon, Carty, Healy, Leader, Conan, L.Mcgrath Marshall, Furlong, McLaughlin, Ryan, D.Kearney
get some time with Schmidt because most of those guys would probably miss out if Ulster and Munster werent in the semi finals
Carty really? I mean I want him to come good as much as anyone but about his only good match this season was against Exeter at home. He’s well away from the Irish setup.
Really? I thoight Carty had been playing quite well up till about the Cardiff match. Pulled the strings v.well vs Leinster and hes an Irish Flyhalf getting consistent game time. Ok, hes off the mark in terms if the Irish Squad but the emerging one ? I think hes capable, the more players who are involved with Schmidt the better, i think the camps are really being used to improve players, as it should be with internatiol teams
I think Carty has the quality in him, however he has been atrocious of late.
I hate saying this but I don’t think many of the Clan would regretfully agree that he has consistently been the poorest player on the pitch for the last half dozen or so games.
Curiously, I think Aki is the main problem. McSharry sets both lines when he’s playing often to great effect (see Toulouse away). Aki sits 3rd, sometimes 4th in Connacht’s defensive line, seeing as Henshaw shoots this leave Carty to set the line as a centre back which simply doesn’t work. Aki also cuts in as first receiver too sporadically in attack, which leaves Carty unsure of his plays.
In short Aki-Ronaldson good, McSharry-Carty good, but Aki and Carty just don’t work IMO.
Uh oh I’m out of me depth here, a real connacht supporter !
Im not gona lie, I havent seen enough of all of them to be able to say much about them. I do agree that Ronaldson is probably better at directing, wheter at 10 or 12. Just talking with ya there seeing the names, Connacht easily have one of the better 10-12-13 combinations of the provinces. No matter who you have in the center betwen Aki, Henshaw, Ronaldson, Mcsharry you’re pretty spoiled !
Selecting only from Connacht, Leinster and overseas players, here is an XV I’d be pretty happy to see Joe “broaden the base” with, blending experience with young guys who have earned a shot:
1. Jack McGrath – going from strength to strength
2. Sean Cronin – give the man a start!
3. Rodney Ah You – we need to know if he can cut it or not
4. Devon Toner – leadership in the front five
5. Ryan Caldwell – expending the relatively think options at lock (shame that Mick Kearney is injured…)
6. Jordi Murphy – he’s playing his way onto the RWC plane
7. Sean O’Brien – needs games
8. Jack Conan – a ready for this stepping stone
9. Kieran Marmion – needs international games
10. Ian Madigan – deserves a (low-risk) shot at running the game
11. Matt Healy – fine season
12. Robbie Henshaw – mouth-watering partnership with Fitzgerald
13. Luke Fitzgerald – a perfect opportunity to let him show what he can do in the middle
14. Dave Kearney – chance to play his way back to form
15. Niall Morris – alternatives to Rob Kearney need to be explored
16. Dennis Buckley – great season
17. Richardt Strauss – up against Casey for the 3rd hooker spot
18. Tadgh Furlong – this would fit his nice progression to date
19. Mike McCarthy – reliable back up
20. Eoin McKeown – deserves a game
21. James Hart – bring him into the fold
22. JJ Hanrahan – already an overseas players, as far as Axel is concerned…
23. Chris Farrell – fine season at Greenoble
Ryan Caldwell ? Has he been up to much lately ? Would prefer to see Muldowney there. Also despite only returning mid six nations O’brien looks unfit and tired. His pre season bulking has turned into a flat tyre with a lighter training schedule and was lathargic agaisnt Bath , they all were agasint Ulster but he was in particular.
Billy – I hadn’t realised that Muldowney was IQ. Agree that Caldwell hasn’t been tearing up trees – I was struggling to think of a second row to stick into this team!
Ben Marshall seems to be making progress at Leinster, but is some way off even an international like this.
Quinn Roux will be IQ in June I think, but is injured.
Mick Kearney would have been the obvious choice were he not injured.
Sean Cronin had surgery today and is out for 12 weeks. Casey to start, Strauss off the bench. What are we going to learn from starting McGrath that we don’t already know, let’s see if Buckley is up to this level. Second row will be awkward. Wouldn’t mind seeing Eoin McKeon over Conan. Cooney or Luke McGrath over Hart, the latter has not played a whole heap this year.
Colm – I agree that Casey deserves a shot, but I had deliberately ignored Munster and Ulster players due to their potential P12 commitments.
Re Buckley/McGrath, I don’t think it makes a Gray deal of difference which of them were to start. Replacement props tend to play about 30% of the match these days.
Second row is definitely awkward, as you say. I hope Donnacha Ryan can recover his fitness and form in time for RWC. Henderson looks bloody amazing, mind you.
Good call re McKeown: Conan’s form has tailed off a bit.
Luke McGrath as reserve 9 makes sense. Don’t think Cooney is even close.
Give these lads a run:
1. Cronin 2. Strauss 3. Furlong 4. Ryan 5. Henderson 6. Murphy 7. O’Donnell 8. Conan
9. Marmion 10. Jackson 11. Fitzgerald 12. Madigan 13. Henshaw 14. Gilroy 15. Payne
No Ulster or Munster starters amigo.
Any chance Mr Deans could stop off in Dublin and visit me Dawson’s office for an interview?
Fancy words for “we’re putting out a team of nobodys”
It would be funny if it was only Leinster players that were available. Hopefully it’ll be a Munster, Ulster final, and if Connacht don’t get 6th then they at least make the play-off. Who would Joe select in that scenario? Could be something like:
15 Kearney
14 Kearney
13 Ringrose
12 Darcy
11 Fitzgerald
10 Madigan
9 Boss
8 Heaslip
7 O’Brien
6 Ryan
5 McCarthy
4 Toner
3 Furlong
2 Cronin
1 McGrath
16 Strauss
17 Healy
18 Bent
19 Marshall
20 Murphy
21 Reddan
22 Marsh
23 Fanning/Kelleher
Mike Ross, forgot about Mike Ross. Stick him on the bench instead of Bent