Murray Kinsella reports from Celtic Manor
IRELAND’S PLAYERS HAVE full faith that Joe Schmidt’s game plan for Sunday’s World Cup Pool D clash with France will bring positive results, says Ian Madigan.
Ireland’s players have hinted that they have been holding some of their very best plays and patterns back for the occasion of their most important World Cup fixture to date, and this weekend may see them finally unleashed.
Madigan, who featured off the bench against Canada and started the win over Romania, says the squad are always excited to implement Schmidt’s tactics.
“Having Joe as our coach, when he decides on the game plan and the patterns of play that we’re going to use for any given week, there’s massive excitement,” said Madigan. “Because you know that they are going to work.
“We’ve full belief in the patterns of play that he decides on, and that creates massive excitement in preparing during the week in training. And that only builds the closer you get to a match.”
As an out-half, Madigan one of the men who calls the plays on the pitch. While Ireland may have trained for one particular play before, there are sometimes limits on what their playmakers can call out on the pitch.
Madigan says that’s very much part of the sport and has been since his schoolboy days.
It is a part of rugby now because the analysis that other teams are doing on you are so extensive that if you show certain patterns of play or certain back plays that they’ll know how to defend if you use them in a game in future,” says the out-half.
“It’s something that the Irish are used to though. In Blackrock College we used to hold certain plays back for big cup games and so did some of the other big rugby schools. It’s something we’re well able to do and we know that when the time’s right to call a specific play that we’ll be able to execute it.”
Madigan was an unused replacement last weekend as Ireland squeezed past Italy in Olympic Park, and although he was not called upon on that occasion, he has “no doubt that Joe has full faith in his bench.”
The Leinster man has seen a different mentality among the playing squad early this week ahead of what Ireland are viewing as a knock-out tie against the French.
“Even breakfast this morning, it was from eight until half nine, but the majority of the boys were in the breakfast room at eight o’clock. There was a queue for the laptops then after that and good intensity in the gym.
There’s small groups getting together, the front row, the locks, the half backs, getting together in units and discussing what they are going to bring this week.”
If Madigan is called upon this weekend in the Millennium Stadium, he may find himself opposite Frédéric Michalak, who Philippe Saint-André has backed as his first choice in the 10 shirt.
Madigan admires the attacking quality of the Toulon maestro.
“Freddie’s a brilliant talent, his record speaks for itself,” said Madigan. “He’s a magician, a player who can pull a rabbit out of a hat.
“And he’s the heartbeat of that French side and someone we’ll be looking to keep a close eye on this weekend. When you’re at a World Cup you want to be playing against the best and he certainly is one of those.”
Would be giving Cave and Fitz a run out against Romania with Henshaw off the bench just to ease him back in.
Payne is a class act. His defence is rock solid. He’s also (sort of) playing out of position. I’d like to see him at 15 versus Romania.
Spot me Bren !
he, along with players like heaslip are the ultimate moneyball kinda players. particular key attributes that they posses slot seemlessly into what is required for the team. all sense of selfishness and ego is given up. you don’t see their efforts in the game but if you look at their stats they contribute hugely to the overall cause. he and henshaw were placed together initially because of how solid they are defensively, which arguably was bod and darcy’s greatest contribution in later years, and the thing that most needed reproducing.
Just read D’Arcy’s article in the IT. http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/gordon-d-arcy-surviving-at-centre-not-easy-just-ask-jesse-kriel-1.2362159
“I also think Payne has become the second most important player in Ireland’s backline, possibly even the team. A fullback by nature, he has become a reliable Test centre and that’s down to fundamental skills”
Not impressed by Payne so far. Maybe he does alot of unseen stuff defensively (though not much evidence against Eng recently) but for me he doesn’t offer enough from attacking perspective. Dont understand why he almost seems untouchable as 1st choice 13. I’d prefer any of Madigan, Fitz or Earls starting with Henshaw.
Well he scored a shi’ite load of points for me on Fantasy Rugger and must have been penalised for the kick/turnover .. Second centre is a seriously difficult position to play and he’s doing fine , you may not appreciate the hard work , tackles etc that he’s putting in but I betcha Joe and Les Kiss do ..
97 meters (second to Rob Kearney)
14 tackles, none missed (second to Ian Henderson)
Ex All Black Justin Marshall describes Irish centre partnership as “lack lustre” and sayd they “do not challenge”. Put it this way… Name one of the contenders to win the tournament that would swap their centre partnerships for ours. Not one. Henshaw has time but Payne will never be world class whatever stats say.
Cameras in the gym ????? Wtf