In Joe, we trust?
Not time to panic but almost five months to fret about what we do next.
It turned out that Warren Gatland pretty much had our number back in August.
Ireland play very narrow, do the basics well and kick away a lot of possession. If a defence holds a strong line and waits them out, Ireland struggle to unlock the door.
Brian O’Driscoll is gone 18 months now and still we are awaiting some magical spark. Paul O’Connell has now left (on crutches) and we are already worried about a lack on leaders on the pitch.
It was a cruel shame that three more of those established leaders were either injured or suspended.
We have won the last two Six Nations but, given the fact that not a single side from that championship got to the World Cup semi-finals, are we just the best of an average bunch?
Schmidt has signed a contract extension up to the summer of 2017. The IRFU want him to stay for longer but England are seeking new coaching talent. New Zealand? They’ll wait and see, thanks.
For the next two years, at least, here are some key areas Joe can address.
Trusting his plays to be more expansive
Ah yes, the secret plays that didn’t exist.
Everyone expected these plays to be kept under lock and key until we played France and then Argentina. We worked out a nice play – targeting Michalak – against France but there was nothing of note against Argentina.
On the other hand, Argentina knew how narrow we played and flayed us up the left and right wings.
Schmidt’s safety first approach has won us two Six Nations titles. We are grateful for them but suspect this bunch of players have the ability to show more.
Jared Payne played with the breaks on, we offloaded rarely and kicked possession away when we were under the pump. At this stage, the world and his cousin has seen the Sexton/Madigan wraparound.
Simon Zebo, Darren Cave and Andrew Trimble all have an eye for the tryline but were marginalised while Jamie Heaslip doesn’t do clean breaks any more.
Ball-handling under pressure
Everything Argentina and New Zealand are doing, when it comes to passing, sticks.
Passes are slick, well timed and go to hand – not someone’s gullet [Eoin Reddan] or a yard behind them [Robbie Henshaw].
The beauty of so many All Blacks tries, in this tournament, has how they have used the ball, and the width of the field, to create overlaps.
When pressed – particularly by Argentina – Ireland panicked and passes caterwauled all over Cardiff.
Sorting midfield once and for all
Schmidt himself admitted he manufactured his midfield. On Sunday, Argentina dismantled it.
Square pegs in round holes – England did it with Sam Burgess and were slaughtered for it. Schmidt has ignored the likes of Darren Cave, Gordon D’Arcy and Luke Marshall and was left short of craft and guile.
Keith Earls has failed another audition at outside centre but Luke Fitzgerald may nudge his coach for the next chance.
Robbie Henshaw still has a future there but it would be great to see him feature at 13. If they want Payne there, let him play his natural game or allow him to challenge Rob Kearney for the fullback role.
Alongside him, the likes of Marshall or McCloskey would be good to try next year. Cave too, but one suspects he does not tick enough defensive boxes for the coach.
Hooker and locks
Schmidt may be able to kick this can down the road, to 2017, but Ireland could do with some more options to challenge the incumbents.
Forwards often reached their peak at a later age but looking around at options outside of the World Cup’s 31-man squad does not make for an encouraging read.
We may have to stick with Iain Henderson at lock and partner him up with Devin Toner for the next years years while fresher bodies are blooded by the provinces.
As for hooker, can we just give Rory Best a couple of months often and ask him if he fancies Japan in 2019?
