Ireland are set to name a test side with three backline changes from the nail-eradicating win over France during the Six Nations. Joe Schmidt experimented with players and partnerships in Argentina. He will attempt to stick with as many of the tried and trusted as possible for matches with South Africa and Georgia.
Andrew Trimble (injured), Dave Kearney (recovering from injury) and Brian O’Driscoll (retired) are out and Rob Kearney’s back pains have meant a graduated – light going on lighter – training schedule. Schmidt’s plate-spinning exercise means he is unlikely to break up a half-back partnership that was brought together by Declan Kidney in 2011.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton started together for the first time in a rain-soaked World Cup encounter against the USA at Yarrow Stadium. Kidney opted for Eoin Reddan in the 15-6 victory against Australia but Murray closed out that match in fine style after coming off the bench. Sexton, also named with the subs, played at 12 against the Wallabies after Gordon D’Arcy was injured. They were reunited for the Italy match and never looked back after cruising to a 36-6 win.
The duo have been Ireland’s starting half-backs, when fit, ever since. Speaking on Monday at Carton House, Murray commented, ‘Every 10 you play with is different. Me and Johnny have been playing together for a while now. At the beginning people were probably questioning our relationship and were we able to read each other on the pitch. I think we have come an awful long way. We can read each other a lot better than in previous years. that is just a relationship that has kept growing and I have enjoyed working with him. He’s a leader and leaves you in no doubt what he wants from you on the pitch. That is what we are doing this week and last week. Just getting our reps together and getting that understanding back.’
The danger for Schmidt is an over-reliance on the pair. There is little over ten months left to the World Cup and the back-up options at nine and ten are relatively untested. Eoin Reddan – 55 caps (23 starts) – is the exception. Kieran Marmion, Ian Madigan and Ian Keatley have 14 caps (four starts) between them.
‘(The half-back combination) is a decision we have purposely left until later,’ said Schmidt. ‘We are really going to take it one game at a time. One of the reasons where we are not sure who is available week to week. There is a danger for us getting set and who’s going to play when and what we are going to do. We have to stay open ended. That is within the squad and outside the squad.’
Paddy Jackson has big-game experience – three Six Nations starts – but Schmidt has seconded the out-half to Ulster to gain match experience and play his way back into contention. Injuries to Leinster duo Noel Reid and Fergus McFadden have seen Madigan play most of his season at inside centre. ‘I don’t influence those (selection) decisions,’ Schmidt said. ‘I merely react off them as far as selection is concerned. One of the opportunities it does offer is that it does give Ian that real versatility that is handy to have on a bench.’
He added: ‘I certainly have had lots of experience coaching Ian at ten. That gives me a degree of comfort in him being able to cope there. I thought he came on well. We hadn’t really selected him through the Six Nations. We needed some versatility in Paris and I thought he came in at ten and did a good job.’
Schmidt and his coaching ticket are realistic. They would like to add depth to the squad but are aware of the need to keep up the Six Nations momentum by knocking over a southern hemisphere giant. When the back-ups get their chance against Georgia, the Kiwi will be watching closely.
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