JOE SCHMIDT HAS this afternoon named his first team of the 2019 Six Nations, as Ireland’s Grand Slam defence gets underway in a massive opening-weekend game against England.
The head coach’s selection for the Aviva Stadium showdown is here, while below we take a look at the big talking points from today’s team announcement.
Henshaw’s positional switch
By the time Schmidt officially named his starting XV at this afternoon’s press conference at the Aviva Stadium, it came as no surprise to hear the Kiwi read Robbie Henshaw’s name out at fullback.
But the decision to start Henshaw in the 15 jersey for the first time at this level since his Ireland debut against USA back in 2013 is a big, if not calculated, risk from Schmidt.
With Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki and Henshaw all now fit and available for the first time in over a year, Schmidt has decided to select all three rather than choose between them for the visit of Eddie Jones’ side.
Henshaw, having started his career at fullback with Connacht, has not started in the position since his move to Leinster, although he played 34 minutes against Benetton in the Pro14 back in October when Rob Kearney got injured.
While the 25-year-old has previously spoken about it being his preferred position, it is still a big ask of Henshaw to deputise in the backfield on Saturday evening.
Significantly, it also means Schmidt has been able to retain the Ringrose-Aki midfield partnership.
Speaking last year, Henshaw said: “I think he [Schmidt] knows that I have played plenty of rugby there. It’s where he can get the best out of me is where he will play me. That’s the centre and that’s where I enjoy at the moment.
I think the last time I played there [at 15] was two or three years ago against Munster at the Aviva. I went back to 15 just for like 10 minutes. It was nice, it was a bit different.
“Open land with plenty of space. It’s always nice to have that. I suppose it took me back to the early days of my career. It was enjoyable.”
It’s unclear whether this is part of a longer-term plan for Henshaw, or whether Kearney’s lack of game time during a stop-start season forced Schmidt’s hand.
The 32-year-old has only played three games since the All Blacks win and his comeback in Leinster’s defeat of Scarlets last week saw him miss three tackle in a rusty display.
JVDF gets the nod
Allowing for the already confirmed injuries to Iain Henderson and Tadhg Beirne, which somewhat simplified Schmidt’s second row selection, the other key call for the Kiwi this week was in the back row.
Although Seán O’Brien was back in the mix after his 55 minute-display against Wasps a couple of weekends ago, Schmidt has retained Josh van der Flier at openside, while Jordi Murphy was also in contention following an impressive run of form for Ulster.
Schmidt has made just two alterations from that All Blacks win — Henshaw and Conor Murray in for Kearney and Kieran Marmion respectively — and it speaks volumes of van der Flier’s performance that day that he has again been handed the seven jersey.
The Leinster flanker’s Six Nations was cruelly cut short in Paris last year but his diligence and application in getting back for Leinster was rewarded with a return against the All Blacks, where he excelled in the back row alongside CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony.
There is also a welcome return for Murray as he’s reunited with Johnny Sexton in the half-backs, with the Munster scrum-half set for his first Ireland appearance since last summer’s tour of Australia. He missed the November series with a neck injury.
Granted Marmion did an excellent job in deputising for Murray in the nine jersey, but the Limerick native’s presence in the Ireland team is a major fillip ahead of the Grand Slam defence.
Bench calls
It could be argued the make-up of Ireland’s bench will have caused more debate within Carton House this week than the starting XV. The big calls see Dave Kilcoyne preferred to Jack McGrath, O’Brien held in reserve ahead of Murphy and Jordan Larmour getting the nod for the 23 jersey, where Will Addison and Andrew Conway were also candidates.
Having come back from hip surgery post-Christmas, McGrath’s omission is another blow for the Leinster loosehead, particularly after he was left out of Leinster’s squad for their recent Heineken Champions Cup game against Toulouse.
Kilcoyne’s form for Munster merits selection and is fully deserved, but this is a significant setback for the Lion. McGrath, like Kearney, weren’t in Portugal with Ireland last week and it turns out that was significant.
O’Brien is also set to add firepower off the bench having recovered from the broken arm he suffered against Argentina in November, and the introduction of the Tullow Tank’s power and ball-carrying ability later in the piece is an exciting prospect for Ireland.
There is no place for Kearney on the bench, with his Leinster team-mate Larmour in line for his 10th international cap off the bench, while Connacht’s Quinn Roux is the second row cover ahead of Ultan Dillane.
John Cooney is the reserve scrum-half and is set to make his first Six Nations appearance, with Sean Cronin, Andrew Porter and Joey Carbery completing the matchday 23.
Jones shows his hand
England, as expected, have stacked their side with heavy artillery as they make their way from the Algarve to Dublin for this eagerly-anticipated Six Nations showdown.
The headline news from Jones’ team selection is the return of Manu Tuilagi, who is set to make his first England start in more than four years after being named in midfield in the absence of the injured Ben Te’o.
The injury-plagued Leicester centre last started a match for England in the third Test against New Zealand in June 2014, while the other big call sees Elliot Daly hold off the challenge of Mike Brown to remain at fullback.
Daly, more comfortable as a centre or wing, has started England’s last seven Tests at fullback, but Brown is proficient under the high ball in the backfield, and it was expected he would be recalled in anticipation of an aerial bombardment from Ireland.
But Jones did hand a recall to Jack Nowell. Having spoken about the possibility of converting the Exeter flyer into a flanker, the Australian coach selected him in his usual wing position.
In all, there are just seven players who started the last game of last year’s championship, as Henry Slade continues at outside centre where he partners Tuilagi in midfield, with Nowell and Jonny May the two wings.
Owen Farrell again captains the side from out-half, with the experienced Ben Youngs back at scrum-half. Replacement nine Dan Robson is poised to make his international debut off the bench.
“I just felt for this game the best option was to play Owen Farrell at 10 and Manu as a like-for-like replacement for Ben Te’o,” said Jones.
“Manu has impressed us at the training camp, and is right to play.”
England’s pack features both Vunipola brothers, with number eight Billy and prop Mako having recovered from their respective arm and calf injuries, to add real firepower to the visitors’ side.
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Good solid team but I’d be worried that there’s a few on that team who are severely undercooked in terms of game time and match fitness. How much gametime have o brien, henshaw and sexton racked up since Xmas?
I don’t think this game will be the walk in the park that people and the bookies are saying.
@Jim Demps: surprise surprise- the three players you mentioned are from Leinster.
@Fred McHugh: Jim is right. Would take Sexton out and put Noel Reid in.
@Fred McHugh: to be fair the Leinster lads make up the bulk of the team. It’s nothing to do with that, it’s a genuine concern that the three of them have played fuk all rugby since Xmas
@Jim Demps: All three are definite starters when fit. Given their experience, and two weeks in camp, there’s not a ounce of risk in playing them.
@Jim Demps: Agree it’s a bit of a worry, but another way of looking at it is that Sexton & Henshaw have both shown that they can come straight back to top form after coming back from injury. So no risk with them I’d say. O’Brien is perhaps a bit more of a gamble but he’s so destructive that I think it’s a risk well worth taking.
@Jim Demps: I think it’s quite obvious you’d love to lose if it meant you could field 23 players ‘from’ Munster.
Sexton, Henshaw and O’Brien have shown time & time again they don’t need game time to be fit and sharp. There is ample evidence of this, so the risk is only more Leinster players playing.
On SOB, he will only play (unless injury) 20 minutes so there’s no risk that he won’t last.
In any case, don’t you think these things would have been looked at during the two weeks Schmidt has had to look at the players?
@Andrew Hurley: Ireland comes first bud. Always has. I’m an Irish rugby fan before anything. All I’d like to see is the strongest team taking the park and for me this weekend that would include Ryan and Murphy off the bench and larmour at fullback.
@Jim Demps: I wouldn’t be worried Jim…. all three have proven that they can step back in from injury and don’t need time to regain match fitness.
Can the same be said of the Vunipola Brothers or Tuilagi? Billy V is notoriously a poor man on the training field and he needs a run of games to get back to his best.
@Jim Demps: swings and roundabouts. If Henshaw plays well at 15 and plays well and even gets another couple of games at 15 in the Six Nations then he could be seen as a legitimate option at fullback going forward. Of course, if it doesn’t work out, Joe will get flack for selecting Henshaw at 15.
That said, Joe hasn’t been much of a risk taker as Ireland coach so he obviously likes what he has seen from Robbie in training and probably part of the reason Henshaw has been selected is that the English won’t have expected it either.
As for O’ Brien and Sexton, both will bring their A game to England. No worries there.
All things considered, It doesn’t matter what the fans, media or bookies think. Jos coaches and selects the team.
@Jim Demps: Jim only the odd troll is saying this will be a walk in the park. In fact most people are saying it will be a tough physical game. Ireland are very wary of England.
@Jim Demps: neither has Murray but u didn’t mention him………
@Anthony: Murray started against Leinster, off the bench against connacht and started the Gloucester and Exeter games. Sexton hasn’t played a minutes since munster, henshaw has an hour since October and o brien has less than a game as well I think. Big differences there bud.
@Jim Demps: the break will have done Sexton good – fresh and raring to go! O’Brien is on bench and looked sharp against Wasps recently… And, as for Henshaw I’d have been worried that he wouldn’t last 80mins at centre will so little game time but full back is much more manageable with less heavy lifting. Don’t think anyone expects a cake walk – bookies are bonkers if they think that – it will be a war and expect to see bodies strewn across pitch at end. Interesting Kilcoyne selection – deserves it on form but no one could argue that we’re a weaker team with him there instead of McGrath at his best – sadly McGrath no where near his best yet
@Jim Demps: who would you play instead of them? ….oh hold on don’t tell me….Conway, Carbery…and must be another Munster back row we could sneak in??
@Jim Demps: there’s no Leinster lads on this team it’s the IRELAND TEAM!!!
@Jim Demps: Ryan??
@Roibeard O’ Beachain: yeah, English probably planning on bombarding little Jordon …Robbie should be a different prospect in the air!!
@Jim Demps: Murray looked uncomfortable against Exeter …around neck area, and played very poorly
@BMJF: yes Ryan
@Jim Demps: Ireland comes first? No one’s falling for that one Jim
@Jim Demps: James Ryan? On the bench?
@Hugh Jass: John Ryan.
@Chris Mc: as much as you’d love it not to be true Ireland always comes first in terms of who I support.
@Jim Demps: Murray didn’t even play the full game. Sexton, Henshaw and O’Brien have proven more than once they can hit the ground running. World class players have that ability.
@Jim Demps: Porter is actually so much better than Ryan, deluded
@Anthony: when was the last time any scrum half played a full game??
@Jim Demps: Murray has for Ireland quite often
@BMJF: you forgot cloete and kleyn
@BMJF: word on the street, from people I trust says that Murray never had a neck injury and there was another reason why he wasn’t available for selection……A bold boy, was our Conor!
@Roibeard O’ Beachain: That rumour is so illogical only an idiot would believe it
@Roibeard O’ Beachain: it’s the other Conor you’re thinking of
@Eddie Hekenui: each to their own but I heard this came directly from someone working for the IRFU. Bit of an outlandish thing make up.
@Roibeard O’ Beachain: “I heard this came directly from a guy working in the IRFU” is this version of a friend of a friend. Ie it’s complete bullsh*t. There’s absolutely no logic in it being true. Why would they offer him a massive new contract in the middle of his ban? Why would they have him at countless sponsor events while “serving a ban”? Would they really do it in the wake of the Jackson 4 and grobler drama? Why would they give a guy who failed a test such incredible leverage over them? And why would they risk the greatest team in Irish rugby history being clouded by a cover up? Simple answer they wouldn’t because it makes no sense.
@Eddie Hekenui: it’s all a cover up Eddie. He knows a guy who said so.
If henshaw goes well it could be the end in green for Rob. It’s just gotten to the stage where you can’t leave him or Aki out if fit. Ringrose is 13 for the next 10 years hopefully. England are coming to town looking for the win. It’s going to get ugly….
@Davedental: Kearney is finished after the Scarlets guys skinned him last week. It was embarrassing to watch them go by and he couldn’t even raise an arm.
@Davedental: 12/13
then becomes 4 way competition
Farrell, Farrell, Aki, and Ringrose
@Tom Fahey: R.Kearney, finished? Again?
I expect him to play another stormer against NZ in the WC, if we get the chance.
P. S. He was not “skinned”, just sidestepped and handed off – a lack of game sharpness can do that to a man (or boy, or girl…)
@Davedental: don’t think so, Kearney wasn’t fit against Scarlets and shouldn’t have played.
For sure he will be selected by Joe again when match fit.
Munster and Leinster fans argueing over which of their players should or shouldn’t have been selected. Like death and taxes there’s no escaping it
@Eddie Hekenui: so true it’s the journal trolling us im afraid
Looking forward to seeing Henshaw at 15, however I wonder about the longevity of the switch. Realistically he will get little or no game time at 15 for Leinster
@Luke walkee: Depends how the experiment works. Rob K is probably done after the RWC, that leaves a slot at 15 for Leinster and Ireland. You would assume Larmour is earmarked for both, but he has a long to go to looking safe in the 15 jersey. Arguably he could just as easily be a winger or centre. With emergence of Conor O’Brien and a conveyor belt of new prospects behind him in sure Leinster could find a way to make it work.
@Johnny 5: not to mention Aki moving up once his contract with Connacht expires ;)
@Darren Byrne: much more likely that Henshaw returns home to the West! I think we’ve done enough to dig out Leinsters midfield already.
@Shane McGettrick: Home? He’s from Westmeath. Last time I checked that was in Leinster.
@Shane McGettrick: Where are T. Farrell & Robb from?
@Johnny 5: I don’t see C O’Brien making that step just yet. As you say, Larmour is earmarked for 15 after Kearney and I would be very surprised if its not Henshaw and Ringrose in the centre when all fit.
@Luke walkee: if all goes well for him on Saturday, Leinster might have to play him at 15. Joe will dictate, or advise might b’é a better word.
@Shane McGettrick: Henshaw is from Leinster growing up and starting his Rugby in Athlone so I’d say he’ll stay with his home province
@BMJF: Jaysus, ye lot are awful sensitive! Henshaw came through the Connacht academy, colleges with NUIG, club is Bucaneers (Connacht branch) and went to school at the Marist (Connacht senior cup team). I think that speaks more to where he’s from than which side of the Shannon he happened to live.
As for T. Farrell (who was deemed surplus to requirements and ended up at Bedford), and Peter Robb (Connacht academy product), well, it’s hardly comparable to making off with one of the key players of that years league winners is it?
At any rate, hands off Aki :) looking forward to the weekend!
@Luke walkee: Sorry for Conway. Best option at fullback. Tried and tested.
Delighted for Dave Kilcoyne who has been in massive form. Delighted Joe didn’t start SOB. Van Der Flyer deserves to start.
Great to see John Cooney backing up Murray even if its at the expense of injured lads. He should have got more time on the pitch in November.
With Henshaw on the pitch and Larmour on the bench we are well catered for in the backs should changes be necessary.
@Ian Frizzell: I agree he deserved more time, however I see this being like Aus, where Murray will play the full game or Cooney will get about 5 mins, not really enough time to show what he can do.
Hopefully have the lead by the time Joe empties the bench, won’t be nice for England seeing SOB, Larmour, Carberry, Cronin and Kilcoyne coming on if they are chasing the game
@Darragh Heslin: especially kilcoyne who has got his chance (overwhelmingly deserved) he’ll be like a bull on cocaine ! Excited to see how he does, very happy for him.
@Californialov3: let’s hope he isn’t the old Dave give a penalty Kilcoyne!!!
@BMJF: Kilcoyne has been an absolute machine this season to be fair.
@Martin Quinn: What happened to “you forgot the main reason you are wrong (IMO) is that Joe sees so much more of the players then we could ever “. Maybe that’s why he’s picked Kilcoyne. Or is your blind faith in Joe only limited to when he picks Leinster players?
What I love about this squad is the quality of the unfortunate players NOT included, through injury or otherwise. In any other generation we would have happily accepted a starting team consisting of the following 15 players:
McGrath; Herring; Ryan; Henderson; Beirne; Ruddock; Leavy; Murphy; Marmion; R Byrne; Conway; C Farrell; Addison; A Byrne; Kearney
Even selecting that team there are genuine selection headaches at 2, 8, 9, 10 and the entire back 3.
Congrats to all 23 picked. Unlucky the players to miss.. their will no doubt be injuries so players who miss out now will get their chance in the coming games.
Looks like a great team. Great to see Murray back
This is going to be the mother of all battles and if were not tuned in properly, we will be takin.
@Macca: Something you could say about nearly every Six Nations game.
Hope Ireland won’t be caught cold in their first game as has happened in the past. Their structures and game plan has improved year on year, so here’s hoping for a good win against the ol enemy :-)
Kearney, McGrath and Conway stayed behind when the rest of the squad went away for a week long training camp.
None of them were ever going to be selected for the opening match without being there. Schmidt is all about the systems the homework the preparation.
@Donal Treacy: Donal you are so right as usual :-)
@Ian Frizzell: Flirt!!!!!!
@Ian Frizzell: :-)
It’s all about the performance, we have another team in the stand that could beat this irish 23 .put we need to get the performance on the money ,really need to stand up especially the bench. And if they do, omg ,in Joe we trust that the mind and heart will be in sink. Come on Ireland
@Martin: who on the other team in the stand that could beat this 23?? Really curious on that one
@BMJF: In a one off game you never know. The following is a pretty handy team.
McGrath, Scannell, Ryan, Beirne, Henderson, Ruddock, Leavy, Conan, Marmion, Byrne, Farrell, Farrell, Conway, Addison, Kearney
Herring, Buckley, Bealham, Dillane, Murphy, McGrath, Carty, Sweetnam
Yummy
Yum