Tommy Bowe will forever be associated with the Millennium Stadium but some would prefer if he were not associated with the place on Friday night.
Times have changed and so has the name of Cardiff’s nifty, city centre digs. Ireland will take on Rob Howley’s men at the Principality Stadium and Bowe is the main backline reserve.
Once Andrew Trimble was ruled out of the rest of the championship, the likelihood was that Schmidt would go for experience over promise and, some would say, form. Jared Payne looked odds on for the role for about 48 hours. Once he missed Monday’s training runs, Bowe was in the mixer.
Asked about the 33-year-old’s selection on Ireland’s bench, Schmidt told us:
“Tommy has trained really well. He’s trained the house down.
“His last couple of games for Ulster have been incrementally improving and some of the things we’ve asked of him, we’ve seen.
“It’s tough because Craig Gilroy has also been doing really well and so has Andrew Conway. But I think in the context of what Wales will bring, Tommy is so strong in the air and his experience, having played with a lot of these players in his time with the Ospreys, it was probably a good decision in this context.”
That may the context Schmidt is holding too but Bowe’s selection drew a mixed reaction from Irish rugby fans [below].
Much like Rob Kearney, Bowe is copping some flak for being good rather than great. He made one ill-advised tackle against Scotland but he surely has credit in the bank and the trust of his teammates, having been through so many wars with them.
Personally, I would have preferred Gilroy on the bench [if Payne was not fit] but I won’t join the queue slating a lad who has delivered time and again for Ireland. Not yet anyway.
There were some delighted to see Bowe back
@TommyBowe14 Great to see you back in the Ireland squad Tommy. Good luck and do Ulster proud
— Gemma P (@Gem7688) March 8, 2017
Good man Tommy!!! @TommyBowe14
— Adrian Logan (@OurLogie) March 8, 2017
Others bemused
Why oh why is Tommy Bowe in that Ireland squad?!
— Edd (@E_Diddy) March 8, 2017
The majority were not at all happy
Tommy Bowe's selection is madness..
— Jack Quigley (@VocalSterFan) March 8, 2017
Tommy Bowe?? Go on Joe, explain that one to me. Surely one of the form backs who cover across the backline would be preferable?
— doogie (@doogie_nights) March 8, 2017
Tommy Bowe at 23 makes even less sense now than it did 5 weeks ago. Ulster's 5th best winger shouldn't be near the national team
— Roarz (@Roarzz) March 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/stevemanning15/status/839490406052167680
