Joe Schmidt has given 27 Test debuts to players over the past three years but he still has his go-to guys.
The New Zealander has done a remarkable job of building up a sizeable, hungry, talented pool of players since taking up the Irish job in 2013.
Schmidt is not exactly throwing out caps to anybody and everybody though. You either get up to speed and know your role in his system or you wait a long time for another chance. In the past two years, once Schmidt’s feet were well and truly under the table, he has settled on a number of players in his starting XV.
Five players have featured in Ireland’s five biggest wins of 2015 and 2016 – France, England, France again [World Cup], South Africa and New Zealand – will only four have started each game. Jack McGrath was a fine impact sub in the World Cup win over the French.
Can you guess Schmidt’s four g0-to guys? You have two minutes. Full names please…
