A Wolfhounds team announcement does not usually spark so many talking points
But with surnames like O’Brien, Earls, Ross and D’Arcy inked on the team-sheet, the Ireland Wolfhounds’ team to play England Saxons on Friday was always going to garner a healthy dollop of media attention.
Joe Schmidt has many of his big names back. Dan McFarland may be coaching the Wolfhounds from the sidelines, tomorrow, but the make-up of his squad is all down to Schmidt.
Hooker Richardt Strauss told SportsJOE, at Carton House this afternoon, that Friday’s game is an opportunity for several senior, and fringe, players to stake a claim for the Six Nations opener against Italy.
The fact that Strauss then admitted it was “unlikely” he would feature in that game goes some way to suggesting that Schmidt is close to settling on his match-day 23 for next weekend’s game in Rome.
Today’s announcement offers as many questions as it does answers when it comes to selecting a possible Ireland XV. However, one feels, the omens do not look good for Simon Zebo, Gordon D’Arcy and Mike Ross.
Schmidt reportedly baulked at the suggestion, at Wednesday’s Six Nations launch, that Luke Fitzgerald could be deployed on the wing during the Six Nations. The 27-year-old has played the bulk of his Leinster games at outside centre since he made a latest injury comeback.
He played most of an injury shortened 2013/14 on the wing and has vast experience on the left flank for Ireland. Supporters of the national team will testify that is the position the have seen Fitzgerald at his devastating best.
McFarland says the Irish coaching staff are satisfied with Fitzgerald’s form in the centre and are eager to see him play 80 minutes (or close to) on the wing against Saxons. The Leinster man was a trusted lieutenant of Schmidt’s during his coaching tenure at the province.
Dropping Zebo, who has started Ireland’s last five games, may be harsh but he has not quelled the defensive queries about his game. His daring/flippant – depending on your view-point – offload against Australia, which was intercepted in the lead-up to Bernard Foley’s first try, was high profile and costly.
Veterans under threat
Ross is the only other player in the Irish squad that has played the last five games, yet the tight-head prop must now genuinely fear for his No3 jersey.
There are two ways of looking at his Wolfhounds selection: 1. Joe Schmidt trusts him in the keystone role and needs to get him game-time. 2. Marty Moore is being spared the trip to Cork in advance of his promotion to the first team in Rome.
Ross returned from a lengthy absence, in November, and his first three games were Test matches – a very, very tough ask. He struggled in all three, albeit without badly letting the team down, and was out-played by Joe Marler in the Champions Cup.
Leinster coach Matt O’Connor dropped him entirely from his squad, earlier this month, so confidence will be bruised.
At the beginning of the season, D’Arcy noted that his rugby career could have ended in 2008 after he badly broke his arm. He returned to help province and country to multiple successes but has not been assured of his place in the Irish team for the past two and a half seasons. No-one is doubting his commitment, or defensive spade-work, but there is a sense Schmidt will go with Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne as his centres against Italy.
Picking D’Arcy at inside centre for the Wolfhounds could easily be viewed at keeping the veteran’s eye in – he missed Leinster’s last two Champions Cup games – in case he is needed during the Championship.
Competition is fierce within the Irish squad but, at present, Fitzgerald, Moore and Henshaw look to have the edge.
