I have heard that Joe Schmidt likes to know his players and combinations early in the week of big games. He is a coach that likes to get his preparation done well in advance so he will have no interruptions as the week goes on.
To that end, I was not too surprised by his decision to select a big, physical guy like Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne in the Irish midfield. With Brian O’Driscoll retired, Schmidt was always going to have a new pair in the middle. Why not try out a totally new pair? It is a brave call and they will be blooded against one of the toughest teams they are ever likely to face. South Africa are on a real high at the moment after beating the All Blacks and they have form players across the park.
Both Henshaw and Payne are solid defenders. The key to becoming a defensive pair is having that trust in your partner. That will come in time. You cannot afford to be second-guessing if the guy beside you is going to step out of the line or not. O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy were almost like defensive twins. They were of the same mind.
I have experienced the conversation (about getting dropped) that Gordon must have had this week. It is not a pleasant feeling. I was not like O’Driscoll in my career. I always wanted to be nervous coming up to team selections. In a weird way, I never wanted to be assured of my place. I wanted to be on tenterhooks coming into a big game.
Having made his call and left D’Arcy out, I feel Schmidt needs to give the lads a fair run. They can’t just be given one run-out against the second best side in the world. There may well be changes for the Georgia game next week but I would like to see them get the breathing space of two matches together. If all goes well, push them out again against the Wallabies. We’re not even about building any more. We are within 12 months of the World Cup so you are seriously looking at partnerships you think you can use come tournament-time. Schmidt knows what Gordon can do and wants to see if the other lads can come up to the mark. I’ve no doubt that Gordon will feature prominently over the next 12 months.
There is a familiar face in the Springbok midfield. My old team-mate Jean de Villiers was similar to many of the southern hemisphere players that signed for Munster over the years. A lot of them don’t realise the game here is not the same as they are used to. There is not as much space; not as many breaks. They have that offloading side to their game that is not big here. It was the same with Christian Cullen – he ran off player’s shoulders a lot. He was always looking for that pass and, when it worked, he would be away for a try. If it did not, he would be off, 20 yards ahead of our ruck. It may have taken a couple of months but De Villiers did well once he settled in. He is a fantastic player. 102 caps for South Africa and still going strong.
I was fortunate to get over for a try in the 32-15 win over South Africa in 2006 can still recall the 15-10 win at Croke Park three years later. Paulie O’Connell had been working closely with our forwards coach Gert Smal and had crammed up on basic Afrikaans and their numbers. He was able to break their system and disrupt them for a while. Eventually, they took to huddling together and making the calls in the middle.
Looking at the Ireland starting fifteen and there is reason for optimism. They still have the second row and back row units intact. The lads in 8,9 and 10 are the same and are well used to each other’s styles. Simon Zebo is one of the form wingers in world rugby and we all know what Tommy Bowe can do.
South Africa’s players are coming to the end of a long year but are in great form after coming straight from The Rugby Championship, a hotbed of competition. Ireland haven’t been together as a first-choice squad since the Six Nations as a few key players did not tour Argentina.
When I add it all up, I am leaning towards an Ireland win. Whenever they play at home they stand an excellent chance. With so many of the vital units in good shape, Ireland can get the job done.
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