Peter O’Mahony – ruled out of World Cup on Monday, October 12 and replaced on the same day. Paul O’Connell – ruled out of the World Cup on Tuesday, October 13 and replaced on the same day. Jared Payne – ruled out of the World Cup on Saturday, October 10…
The IRFU have thought long and hard about it but, up until this afternoon, there was no replacement for the Ulster back.
That all changed at 12:36pm when Payne was replaced by Isaac Boss, a scrum-half.
Bad news for @IrishRugby losing Jared Payne. He has been the glue.
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) October 10, 2015
Keith Earls was asked to be that glue against Italy, then France. He surpassed O’Driscoll’s World Cup try record against the Azzurri and was defensively sound in both outings. If only that pass from Tommy Bowe – with the French tryline waiting – had stuck.
In his year, including 10 Test matches, with Ireland, Payne proved a divisive figure.
He was, depending on your viewpoint, either the smartest player in the Irish backline and the fulcrum of everything Joe Schmidt was working towards, or a diligently dull option who kicked away possession.
For my part, Payne is an outstanding fullback and a competent, brave outside centre. He has more attacking weapons in his arsenal but sheathed them as that was not what Schmidt wanted.
The only update the IRFU has provided about Payne is that a decision was still being made on who to replace him with. The latest was that he would finally be replaced on Monday, if Ireland could make it to the World Cup semi-final.
There is a certain, Schmidt logic to that.
The coach felt that he had enough cover within his squad to go into the Argentina game as is. He spoke, on Friday, about wanting as few disruptions to training as possible. For all his enthusiasm and desire, a new back would have brought that.
There was also the wait on the busted up Earls. The Limerick native had been dogged by injuries for 18 months. Although he finished last season well, with Munster, the World Cup is a different, altogether savage beast.
Andrew Trimble would have been summoned, earlier this week, had Earls pulled up in training. As it stood, Earls hit every fitness marker that was laid out.
With midfield covered – Darren Cave is another viable option – Schmidt has opted to bring in another scrum-half. Boss has not made the bench for Sunday’s game but should see action if Argentina are overcome.
A semi-final and, at best, a final [at worst a 3th/4th playoff].
Better late than never.
