One battle may be postponed until the November internationals, but try telling that to Robbie Henshaw…
You look at the current Ireland team right now – the one that started the 24-15 win over England – and try to pick a weakness. It’s damned hard to do.
The front row is a world-class unit, that second row pairing of James Ryan and Iain Henderson has frightening potential, the back row of O’Mahony-Leavy-Stander bossed the Scots, Welsh and English and there is no better pairing in the game, at present, that Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton.
You look at the backline and Rob Kearney is in great form, Keith Earls [injured in that game] was having the season of his life and Jacob Stockdale has scored 11 Test tries in nine outings. Bundee Aki has a firm hold on the No.12 jersey while Garry Ringrose came back for the last two games, at outside centre, and shone.
Heading into the tail-end of the season, much may yet change. Players could dip in form, others will excel and there will definitely be injuries. That is for certain.
After Ireland’s Grand Slam win, Joe Schmidt noted how Ireland lost Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald, Johnny Sexton and Dave Kearney less than a fortnight before the 2016 summer tour to South Africa. With the World Cup in 2019 gaining on us, Schmidt would love to have all his senior men to take Down Under but will take whomever the injury Gods allow him to.
The exciting thing about this Ireland squad is that at least six top-class players are set to come back into the selection mix. Rhys Ruddock, Niall Scannell and Andrew Conway were all unlucky to miss out on Grand Slam glory but they are all likely summer tourists if they finish the season in good nick.
The big selection headaches Schmidt may have to wrangle with concern Tadhg Beirne, Sean O’Brien and giving outhalf game-time to Joey Carbery.
O’Brien is one of the four undoubtedly world-class players in the Ireland set-up. He proved that once again on the Lions Tour to New Zealand and the Kiwi media, fans, and players rave about him still. Game definitely respects game.
Dan Leavy is the man in tight possession of that No.7 jersey, however, and James Downey told The Hard Yards [from 40:30 below] that he cannot see a place for O’Brien, right now, in that Ireland back row. The Carlow native is versatile, however, and could also fill jerseys 6 or 8 if Peter O’Mahony or CJ Stander were injured.
The other big call involves a big man who could yet finish the season with more silverware [for Scarlets] and as European Player of the Year.
Tadhg Beirne is signing for Munster this summer but was not selected for his Ireland debut as he was still playing his club rugby in Wales this season. The former Leinster lock has had two superb seasons for Scarlets and, as well as chipping in with tries and covering blindside, has secured more turnovers than any other player in the northern hemisphere this season.
Henderson and Ryan were immense against England, as they were against France earlier in the championship, so it is conceivable that Beirne may have to play back-up for his first couple of involvements in a Test squad.
The final call is one that may cause Schmidt the most worry – resting up Johnny Sexton for Carbery or sticking with the elder statesman and trying to sweep the Wallabies Test Series. One suspects Sexton, if fit, will get two starts and Carbery one but we are not at the point for lusty debate just yet.
Finally, Henshaw will be desperate to get back and play some games for Leinster ahead of the Australia tour. He was in great form before his injury and offers Schmidt a class alternative for jerseys 12, 13 and 15.
We wish it was summer already.
