The naming of Joe Schmidt’s first Ireland squad yesterday held little surprises with just three uncapped players called up for the November internationals against Samoa, Australia and New Zealand.
James Coughlan will join Leinster counterparts Dave Kearney and Jack McGrath in hoping to make it into Schmidt’s match day plans.
Brian O’Driscoll is in the squad despite only having played one game so far this season, but the legendary centre did return to training this week with Leinster. Schmidt’s selection was hampered by injuries to Donnacha Ryan (knee) and Iain Henderson (toe) at the weekend. They join Simon Zebo, Jordi Murphy, Tommy O’Donnell, Richardt Strauss and Stephen Ferris on an ever growing injury list.
The 34 man squad does not offer too much in the line of surprises but with a small player pool available in Ireland that is to be expected. What will be interesting is the captain announcement which will be made in the coming weeks. Who Schmidt opts for will be interesting but at this stage Ireland have so many leaders on the pitch that anyone of them could pick up the mantle without too much of a seismic shake up.
What is off more importance is the destination of some of Ireland’s top players next season as the future of the Heineken and Amlin cups are still in doubt. The Welsh clubs expectedly turned their backs on their Italian and Celtic counterparts on Tuesday and backed the Anglo-French proposed Rugby Champions Cup. But they did so without the backing of their Union who have in turn come out today and offered central contracts to all Welsh players out of contract at the end of the season. This is an effort to ensure that the Welsh qualified players such as Alun-Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton and Leigh Halfpenny stay with their current clubs rather than jumping ship to France.
With the news that Racing Metro have made a move for Conor Murray, many agree that without European competition it will be hard for the Irish clubs to hold onto players even with the central contract system which has been operating here very successfully for many years.
Negotiations over the future of the Heineken cup continue today in Dublin but without representatives from the English and French clubs. The Welsh clubs have a representative reportedly in Dublin but he is, maddeningly, not attending the negotiations.
But for Schmidt and the Ireland team the big worry right now is getting through the November series with some degree of respectability. While New Zealand and Australia are well respected as powerhouses of international rugby it would be a fool to take Samoa lightly.
The Manu had a thought-provoking summer tournament where they beat Italy and Scotland quite easily before losing out to South Africa in a match that was turned on the sending off of Alesana Tuilagi. They play a fast counter-attacking brand of rugby and really enjoy the physicality more than most teams. Where Ireland will have to beat them is in the scrum and lineouts. Building good platforms in the set pieces should be enough to see us through in what will be a very tough test.
Australia on the other hand are there for the taking and Ireland should have enough to take them down. Ewan McKenzie has not sparked a revolution in Wallaby rugby just yet but he has the talent available to make Australia into a serious unit. At the moment, though, they are a dis-jointed group who seem to be lacking a bit of heart and self-belief.
If you want to look for unity, self-belief and downright awesomeness than look no further than the mighty All Blacks, who will represent the toughest test for Joe Schmidt and Ireland. We have never beaten them and we will not be changing that stat this Autumn. The power and skill that they displayed when they tore through all comers in their successful Rugby Championship campaign was awe inspiring.
They are a team like no other and Ireland will be really up against it when they come to town.
IRELAND – Backs (15): Rob Kearney (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Tommy Bowe (Ulster), David Kearney (Leinster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Isaac Boss (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster). Forwards (19): Cian Healy (Leinster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Stephen Archer (Munster), Tom Court (Ulster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Rory Best (Ulster), Seán Cronin (Leinster), Mike Sherry (Munster), Paul O’Connell (Munster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Mike McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster), Seán O’Brien (Leinster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), James Coughlan (Munster).
Article source: http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-union/live/match-commentary/61727/munster-v-gloucester
Rugby | Ireland squad face tough tests this Autumn
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