A lot has changed in the world since March 2011.
Luke Fitzgerald is finally back in a starting Irish line-up. His last appearance was at fullback as Ireland succumbed to a controversial Mike Phillips try in 2011.
Fitzgerald last appeared in the Six Nations as a sub, who got injured eight minutes later, against Italy at Stadio Olimpico in 2013. He featured off the bench in the agonising home defeat to the All Blacks but has since missed out on numerous matches, and squads, with a litany of injuries.
He was set to start on the wing for Ireland in the 2014 Six Nations before a groin and abductor injury ruled him out. Andrew Trimble was drafted in and was Ireland’s player of the tournament. With Ireland needing to put a decent score on Scotland, this Saturday, the Irish coaching staff have gone for the Leinster man’s attacking spark.
At the team announcement at Carton House this afternoon, Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said, ‘It has been a very long road back for Luke after a number of injuries. He has an exuberance and positivity that makes it impossible to keep me down… we are going to need that on Saturday.
‘My experience with Luke is that he has been playing a lot of rugby on the wing,’ Schmidt added.
Schmidt believes Fitzgerald will bring ‘a real freshness’ to proceedings in Murrayfield. Schmidt added, ‘He has been chomping at the bit for a while… that freshness, it is something we were probably thinking about in the last two weeks.’
The selection calls are harsh on two players, Simon Zebo and Jack McGrath, that had positive championships. Schmidt said, ‘With Simon, he has started the last nine Test matches… he is showing signs of wear and tear. He’s got a few niggles. We wanted to start with someone who was 100%… it is a little bit the same with Jack McGrath.’
After his recall @lukefitz11 chats to us about turning the Scots over. "For myself, I feel I have nothing to prove" pic.twitter.com/VAY1lD9n2D
— Patrick McCarry (@patmccarry) March 19, 2015
Fitzgerald feels he is back in the Ireland backline to provide “lateral movement” in attack but feels modern rugby requires a stronger defensive game if one is to survive, and thrive.
“I’m really luck yo be back. I say lucky but I have worked really, really hard to be back… there were times when I thought that I couldn’t go on and, about three times, that my career was over.’
