Starting in reserve but it could all come down to Joe Schmidt’s finisher at the Millennium Stadium.
13 of Ian Madigan’s 16 Test caps have come off the replacements’ bench. The 25-year-old made his Ireland debut at the tail-end of Declan Kidney’s tenure as he finished a draw against France in the outside centre role.
It is Madigan’s fervent desire to play out-half for his club and country. His versatility across the backline, however, ties in perfectly with Joe Schmidt’s game-plan. The Kiwi has a fondness for players that can cover multiple positions. Madigan has played inside and outside centre, out-half and fullback in the past two seasons.
While most rugby fans would see Madigan as Johnny Sexton’s closer, he explains the process of covering for multiple positions on the bench.
Hit the ground running
When I’m picked to be on the bench I still prepare like I’m starting. So, if it does come to it that Johnny does go down before the match or early on, I’ll be ready to go.
When I’m sitting on the bench I’ll be playing the game in my mind as though I’m on the field. When there’s a lineout I would be thinking ‘if I was out there now what call would I be playing’. And as you see the play unfolding you think what you would do next.
When it does come to the stage where you come off the bench, I feel as if I’ve been in the game despite not having played in it.
Joe has full confidence in his bench and he makes it very clear to us that if things aren’t going well in a game he does have cards to play off the bench… He also has full confidence in us closing out games.
Much banter on the bench
I’m sure we’re not joking, but the guys on the bench would often be very much together and talking our way through the game and discussing what might work.
We’re very much a team within a team, if you see someone else getting called onto the field it’s always massive encouragement.
But you’re also a spectator, and when Robbie Henshaw scored that try two weeks ago, we were warming up behind the posts, and we were jumping up and down just like everyone else in the stadium. You can get carried away with it at times but you’ve just got to get back to your actual focus.
Quite often you have very little warning, it’s very rare that before a game you’d find out you were coming on at a certain time.
Getting an early touch
It can be difficult, it’s something that you learn over time. Your first involvement is very important to calm your nerves and settle you down.
If that first involvement goes wrong…
If you do make a mistake you don’t want to leave on it, because it’s a small window of time on the pitch and it’s very important to make the most of it.
I wouldn’t review one individual game off the bench too much though, I’d review three or four and have a look overall at what I’d done, because you’ve got a bigger pool to take from.
Remaining positive when named on the bench
It’s an absolute privilege to be on the bench for Ireland. I value being called off the bench to go and play, and the chance to do what’s best for your team, it’s just as simple as that
Doing a ‘ROG’ in Cardiff
What ROG did back in 2009 was incredible. He was never afraid of stepping up to the plate, he did it so many times for Munster and Ireland. Not only did he step up to the plate but he always executed on it too.
If the time comes in the game and I’m on, I’d like to think I would be someone who would put their hand up in a situation like that.
‘And the work I’ve done in training this week and the season will hopefully stand me in good stead.
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