Ireland will try their fifth centre partnership in the five matches since Brian O’Driscoll retired from Test rugby.
Joe Schmidt is set to pair Gordon D’Arcy with Robbie Henshaw (pictured below) in the Irish midfield in Saturday’s Test match against Australia. Jared Payne has returned to Ulster due to the foot sprain he sustained in the 29-15 win over South Africa.
Schmidt’s other options are Darren Cave, who started at outside centre against Georgia, and his Ulster team-mate Stuart Olding. The IRFU, as is its wont, throw up occasional red herrings for interviews but it was interesting to note Olding speaking to the print media at Carton House today. Having scored off the bench against Georgia, Olding could start there against the Wallabies as he is capable of covering centre, fullback and out-half.
Forwards coach Simon Easterby revealed Payne, due to his injury, would have to wait until the 2015 Six Nations to earn a second Ireland cap. The New Zealander ran with the Irish medical team on Monday but the injured foot was diagnosed as “tender” afterward and he will not be risked this weekend.
Easterby is pleased to have Rory Best back to full fitness but was not giving anything away with regard to who Ireland will choose to start as hooker. ‘We’ve three really good hookers… It’s a position of strength for us. Richardt Strauss did well at the weekend and Sean Cronin was part of the winning effort against the South Africans. It’s a good place to be; we’ve got a bit of depth and quality to chose from.’
Ireland will be without the second row services of Mike McCarthy, who was concussed in the 49-7 win over Georgia and is not ready to return to action. It appears likely that Munster’s Dave Foley – man of the match against Georgia – will be named on the bench as back-up to Paul O’Connell and Devin Toner.
Rhys Ruddock may well be asked to fill in at openside again, following his solid outing against the Springboks. Easterby name-dropped Tommy O’Donnell and Dominic Ryan but Ruddock did enough when the chance was afforded him to merit another start.
Easterby has played with, and coached, Michael Cheika-led sides but was eager to downplay the importance of the former Leinster boss’ return to Dublin. ‘He’s a competent guy with a lot of good ideas,’ says Easterby, who believes Saturday’s match will be the one Cheika will be intensely targeting for a victory.
Hat-tip to Word in Sport.
