Joe Schmidt explains decision to start Tommy O’Donnell over Josh van der Flier

Everyone was expecting a big, fat 'unchanged' ahead of St. Patrick's Day's Ireland team announcement.

With nothing but pride to play for, many predicted that Josh van der Flier would get his third consecutive start at openside flanker as Ireland are now in a position in which the only benefit to gain from the final tie of the tournament would have been experience for the younger players. But when the teamsheets were distributed at Carton House, the Leinster man was nowhere to be seen and in his place was Munster's Tommy O'Donnell. It was one of the first questions asked of Joe Schmidt who explained that van der Flier had been struggling after the wear-and-tear of the last two games having caught up with the 22-year-old.