JOE SCHMIDT AND his Ireland coaching staff will have planned for all eventualities at the World Cup and it’s likely that they have a clear picture of who they will call up to replace the injured Jared Payne.
Ireland have opted to wait until after tomorrow’s clash with France to make a final decision, however, and it’s an entirely sensible idea.
Schmidt and his staff have been relatively lucky on the injury front up until Payne’s foot fracture, but there may be further blows in what will be a hugely physically taxing contest against les Bleus.
Better not to rush into anything, as fresh injury concerns arising from tomorrow might change the picture of who Ireland need to add to their squad instead of Payne. Anything could happen – it might even be that one of Ireland’s two scrum-halves gets a knock and cover is needed there.
Right now, the strongest candidates for a call up to the squad appear to be Andrew Trimble and Fergus McFadden, especially with Keith Earls now set to remain predominantly a 13 for Ireland.
McFadden and Trimble both know Schmidt’s methods and demands well, spent the summer training with Ireland, have good form behind them, are experienced on the international stage and are popular with teammates.
Our call would be to bring in Trimble on the wing, with Earls moving into the midfield permanently.
Andrew Trimble
The Ulsterman was seen as the most unlucky player to miss out on the original 31-man squad and with Earls now far more likely to remain in the 13 shirt, Trimble may well get his shot in the end.
Powerful, intelligent, a proactive defender and an incisive attacking weapon.
Fergus McFadden
Another man who Schmidt mentioned as desperately unlucky to miss out on travelling for the start of the tournament, McFadden has returned to Leinster and shown excellent form in his three Pro12 appearances. Covers the midfield, as well as the wing.
Possesses bravery, work rate, a thirst for collisions, aggression and pace.
Noel Reid
Reid is predominantly an inside centre, but as part of Ireland’s extended World Cup training squad during the summer, he comes into consideration if Schmidt opts to go for a direct midfield replacement for Payne.
Gordon D’Arcy might have been the stronger option in that sense, but has had a shoulder injury and a lack of training time since being left out of the 31-man group. D’Arcy is highly unlikely to be lacing up the boots for a final hurrah.
Felix Jones
The third of the back three players Schmidt specifically mentioned as very close to having been in the original squad. Jones has played on the wing for Ireland but is predominantly a fullback. If there are further injuries against France, Jones’ hopes may well increase.
Ireland say Rob Kearney has fully recovered from a “glute strain,” but then Payne was deemed to be fully fit and available for selection as recently as Thursday evening.
Stuart McCloskey
The Ulsterman would be in the bolter category, even as an injury replacement, given his lack of a senior international cap. Hasn’t worked under Schmidt as much as other candidates, but offers a huge physical dimension in the midfield.
One for the future certainly but this World Cup may be slightly too soon.
Trimble is the best option, unlucky to miss out in the first place but had a great 6 nations and is versatile
he hasn’t played a 6 Nations game in a year and a half and isn’t versatile…the best option to call up, but not for any of those reasons
Beat me to it Jonathan.
Trimble started off his pro career for both Ireland and Ulster as an inside centre. He hasn’t played there in a long time but with his ability experience and power I wouldn’t have any worries should he end up there at any stage. Clearly Joe doesn’t really fancy Cave which makes me wonder why he brought him in the first place. Im a big fan of Mc Closkey and would love to see him play alongside Henshaw but might be too soon. Take Trimble, Earls and Fitzgerald can cover 13 and Trimble could make a huge difference for us.
Joe doesn’t operate like that. There is no way in hell he would play trimble in the centre in a RWC. No way. My big concern is if Henshaw gets injured not Earls. Fitz or Cave will replace him and we will have an all new centre combo against Nz/Argentina.
Is that they way Joe operates?
Cave and Earls played at U20 level and they did a good enough job against Wales in the warm up even Trimble managed to provide a try for Earl’s.
Jaysus Christiaan. U20?? I like Cave, but do you really want a centre partnership that has played once in 6 years or so to face NZ? I also like Trimble but there is no way in hell Joe would play him in centre. You must know that at this stage.
Yeah I don’t think Joe would plan to play Trimble in the centre. As I said “in the event he ends up there” he could do a job. Who knows what might happen in a match with injuries, remember D Ryan on the wing against Italy? Trimbles best position is obviously on the wing but I wouldn’t worry about his ability to play anywhere in the backs in an emergency.
I was hoping for a win tomorrow so that we play Argentina? Do you believe we lose tomorrow?
No. I believe we will win. I was referencing a worst case scenario.
Payne is a huge loss.
I don’t understand why Cave is being overlooked though. He’s shown great form at 12 and when he moved out to 13 against Romania he was even better.
The game plan is everything. Obviously Cave is a really good centre, but he mightn’t be hitting all the percentages for Joe. I’m sure he’ll be considered though. Trimble is the only person mentioned above who could leapfrog hin.
Was sure I saw u12 and u13 there,but surely joe needs to take into account his players form at u12 and u13 also
Can I delete comments,holy god that was bad
Stuart McCloskey would definitely be a good option in my opinion point to prove and hungry
Stuart Olding still injured?
He is.
If there is any justice then Trimble should already be packing his bags.
I wouldn’t be surprised though, that it’s McFadden, given the coaches propensity to delve into the Leinster pot.
#shouldertoshoulder Eh Ian?
Schmidt has NO unjust favouritsm. What he does have is a very strict criteria for what players need to do in order to execute a game. Naturally, as he was at Leinater for 4 years before Ireland, so the Leinster players are more used to doing the things he requires. So there’s probably a (diminishing with time) leaning to those players. But it is an objective set of criteria and any suggestion that it’s favouritism is pathetic. Why isn’t D’Arcy in the squad if that’s how he feels?
When in doubt – pick the Leinster player. It’s been a constant feature of Schmidt’s tenure so Reid and McFadden are the eligible candidates. It might have reduced but still hasn’t gone away, lets not forget the bias was so strong in his first season it saw players like Zebo and Cave in the wilderness.
When you have no facts blame the bad man. My heart bleeds for you and your good mate Chip on your shoulder there, Rochey. Chips are for eating, not for forming opinions. You’ll notice I’m not taking this massively seriously.
Rochelle in fairness neither of them at the time deserved a starting berth and some would say cave is still only marginal. It was like as said above, Schmidt has a system and has things he wants from players, as the leinster lads were used to him they were delivering that at the time. Also leinster were the more successful squad at that time so you pick your inform. That has changed in the intervening years hence zebo and Earls getting their starting berths and trimble being brought back in in previous 6 nations. Not fair to say that’s still the case. It really is between trimble and McFadden at this point and he may well take McFadden but when you think of it, look what McFadden can do. He can play right across the back line. Trimble is only a winger. That and some of McFadden’s abrassiveness mightn’t go astray in the centre. He may only be calling up a player in a standby capacity and be giving cave another run anyway…… If we get the chance!
Naughty boy, Ian.
Fifty lines before you sit down to watch the match tomorrow:
“Joe Schmidt does not have favourites; Joe Schmidt does not prefer Leinster players over those from other provinces. Anyone who says so is guilty of Provincial bias and Joe could NEVER EVER EVER be accused of that”
Completely agree with you Ian.
It’s a pity Schmidt cares more about picking Leinster players than winning. Oh, no, wait…
Who was it coined the phrase that that Munster were going to play the Six nations champions? Was it an Ulster man? Oh no wait……
Ye he really mucked up his selection in his first season. I mean he won sweet feck all…… (Oh wait now)
Keep calm and continue trolling Rochelle!
Still no Grand Slam, Robert. We’re seeing in this RWC how lackluster our European rivals actually are, perhaps we should be asking the question why we’re only edging championships on points difference and not dominating them.
Schmidt has done well in his tenure but ludicrous to suggest he has done so well to be beyond questioning. He has made mistakes, some very big ones and has gotten away with them due to the weakness of competition in the NH. The world cup isn’t going to be as forgiving to those mistakes.
Interesting logic there troll,
If you recall we only ‘edged’ the slam in 2009 but that doesn’t in anyway devalue the achievement anymore than England would bemoan winning a World Cup by a drop goal.
You really are living in a different reality if your measure of success is for Ireland to be wiping the floor with the rugby powerhouses.
six nations championships and slams almost always come down to fine Margins and if you recall Schmidt took on an Ireland team who had pretty much hit rock bottom in terms of performances and yet he turned them into a back to back championship winning team (with victories over SA, Australia and Argentina thrown in for good measure as well )
It will likely be a very long time before a coach matches his achievements.
suggestions of interprovincial bias are nonsense but either way a coach is always going to be judged on the teams results.
Seen as we have qualified for the quarters Schmidt will do no worse than any coach before him and may even go one better and reach the semi finals.
Failure to win the World Cup won’t exactly tarnish the great work he has with the Ireland team as no coach before him has been within an asses roar of lifting the trophy….. So do your self a favour and leave your Leinster hatred out of this
Here’s a left of field option for remaining matches! Madigan to play 12, Henshaw at 13, Earls on wing and bring Keatley into squad as cover at 10/12. Johnny will start at 10 & Jackson or Keatley can back em up.
I can’t understand why Madigan at 12 hasnt been tried as we got better goal kicker on pitch, another field kicker & a top class passer into the centre. Earls a great finisher on wings but not a man to deliver killer passes.
That’s what I’d do!! Arguably u get Madigan, Henshaw & Earls all in their best positions!!
Keatley? Hahahaha.
Keatley?
Pal you are talking pure pony
Ah lads, give Keatley a break. It’s unlikely, but not impossible. Keatley’s pretty solid, but he has a bit of a confidence issue. He’s not a joke. It’s not like he’s off telling the media that he’s the best outhalf in the country and should be in the squad, he’s just quietly doing his job.
BM… there is so much wrong with that post. I don’t know where to start but as a Munster fan, Keats is not the answer.
Madigan hasn’t played 12 because he is really bad
Luke Marshall?
How dare you
No way it’ll be another centre. If you have Cave there, and aren’t using him even though you’ve stated he’s the one you wanted as specialist centre cover, why call up someone even further down the list? That rules out Reid/Marshall/McCloskey/whoever else.
Zebo seems firmly placed as Kearney’s 15 cover, so it’ll not likely be Felix Jones.
While McFadden covers both wing and centre, they’ve still got Fitzgerald to do that and Joe could still move Earls around the starting XV as an option to accommodate both, if he so chose.
Trimble seems like the only sensible choice as he is the only one who stands a realistic chance of forcing his way into the team. According to Joe, he just didn’t have time to prove his fitness whereas McFadden lost out on merits to the likes of Fitzgerald, Earls and (to some extent) Dave Kearney.
It’ll still take Kearney or Bowe to slip to allow Trimble into the team again, but he’s the only one I could see being brought in for anything other than filling a training bib.
Keatley and Ringrose, what are you lads on?
Trimble. He was the biggest omission by far, even though we have cover on both wings when he’s injury free he’s our best one.
“Rumours” online that McFadden flew over this morning. If it’s true I hope it’s to watch the game. I am a Leinster man but we have a solid and dependable player in cave, we don’t need what would be a carbon copy. We need someone who can make a difference in games, that’s Trimble or even Mc Closkey.
would love to see mccloskey get a call or else Trimble but it will be McFadden as he is another of Schmidt s Leinster bland security blankets
Patrick, grow up and leave the provincial bull s#$t out of the Irish team.
There’s still one or two of the ignoramus’ floating around unfortunately waiting to twist the knife, Gary.
what are you on about you clown?
While it’s not popular Patrick it is true. If Chris Farrell is fit then really there’s another option.
He would be an option. Has he ever been in camp?
He hasn’t played for Leinster so not likely.
I know he hasn’t been on top form recently but in theory would Tommy Bowe not be a good option at 13? He played there for Ospreys a lot before coming back to Ulster.
That was years ago.
Many years. He’s definitely the shape of a good modern 13, and definitely a skillful guy. But he’s also a specialist on the wing.
It would be an interesting prospect but not with two games left in a WC. Maybe next yrs November series.
Or a summer tour
so is this player to be called in going to figure in starting 15
Unlikely. But if it’s Trible, meaning Earls stays at 13, it’s not impoasible that he leapfrogs DK/Bowe onto the wing. But I reckon DK and Bowe are the planned wings for the moment.
Isaac Boss? If Joe feels whoever he would call up to the backline would be unlikely to get game time over Madigan he might decide to free Madigan for some game time at centre by calling up a recognised scrum-half as proper cover. My money is on Trimble (McFadden second) but Boss could’ve been featured in this list.
McCloskey, or Reid. We need a specialist centre, not another winger.
ringrose let him experience the squad environment
Too inexperienced it would be like calling up Burgess. Other teams would target him all day long if he played and it would just damage his development. I can see where you’re coming from but if we’re talking development one of the Ulster lads should get a shot they’re more physically capable of stepping in
I agree with Eoghan, for the reason you want to bring Ringrose I would love to see McCloskey brought in, he looks different class at Ulster and it would be great to get him involved in the senior set up, but if that was going to be done it should have been done from the start, look at the benefits South Africa are reaping from Pollard, and realistically I can see it being Trimble or McFadden getting the call.
I think we can be too slow in developing our young talent, especially now considering we are so short in the Centre. I know he was always ahead of Ringrose in terms of his physical development but considering he was the one who edged him out for Under 20 World player of the year, it is telling when you see Pollard starting of South Africa in a World Cup when Gary is only after getting his second start from Leinster.
If we bring a bolter for experience, then it has to be mccloskey who is far further down the track then ringrose
Cian, absolutely. Ringrose, as talented as he is, would be destroyed. He’s way too inexperienced at the moment. If it’s to be an out and out centre, then McCloskey would be the favourite.
Whoever gets called up needs to be familiar with Schmidt’s methods and the team’s style of play. That would rule McCloskey out and, despite how promising he looks, he doesn’t have the experience either.
The reality is that there is no ready-made replacement for Payne. The fact that he was converted from full back to centre says a lot: there is a dearth of indigenous talent there.
McFadden is the only one cited above who is a realistic alternative as an outside centre, and even then he is much more of a wing these days.
Another option is to bring Trimble in, but as a wing – and “convert” either Earls or Fitzgerald to centre for the the rest of the tournament. Jones might also be a wing option here, but unlikely to go ahead of Trimble.
A final option would be to move Henshaw to 13, and bring in a 12. Reid might fit but he’s never looked to be convincing at this standard.
I’d say Mcfadden or Trimble will get the call.
I agree Brian. That’s why I said if we were to bring a bolter. I agree about your point regarding home grown talent but it looks to have been addressed for next RWC. Henshaw. Olding, McCloskey, Ringrose, Reid (could be a late bloomer) even in Munster there are a few very good young centres coming through in Bohane, Scannell and Johnston.
Chris Farrell has alot more first team appearances at Grenoble than Ringrose.
Agreed for RWC 2019 – three of the four provinces are developing centres. Munster still appear to importing talent at centre, although young Rory Scannell looks promising.
There are a few overseas guys developing too: JJ has all the talent to be a 10 or 12, Griffin is doing well at London Irish and Chris Farrell, as previously mentioned, has looked good at Grenoble.
Henshaw should be a seasoned campaigner by then, and a 33 year-old Paybe wouldn’t be ruled out. Who knows: Fitzgerald might have finally become the centre he has always promised to be (but only sporadically delivered).
The most pertinent comment ever made on this forum regarding Fitz.
Is D’arcy retired ? I thought he was playing until Christmas?
Contract is up in November but with his injury he’s unlikely (his words) to play again
Ok thanks for clearing it up Dave I wasn’t sure
it’s been openly stated felix Jones is man number 32
Really? Where? If a prop were to be injured would he still be number 32? We don’t have a back up list of players having a set place in the queue.
Schmidt sure likes his full backs. But no, I reckon he has considered a few permutations as to who is man#32, as cool as that title looks.
Doesn’t matter. They won’t be there for long. I’m afraid I think we will be beaten off the pitch tomorrow and then the blacks will send us packing. BUT if we do win the world Cup is ours for the taking. I really hope I’m wrong
Trimble is the unluckiest player to be left out but we have a platter of wingers and he’s not going to jump ahead of bowe, earls, Dave, earls or fitz at this stage. We are short a centre and in fairness a 3rd scrum half. The player who comes in will not get any game time in this WC at this stage unless Basta does a real number on our midfield.
All this provincial bull to pick a player who won’t get a squad shirt never mind a pass of a ball is so petty.
I’d not be surprised if Joe walk away for the Irish squad after the WC because no matter what he does all he hears is he’s bias which calls his professionalism and integrity into question.
Some of you were happier with Ireland finishing 4th in the 6 nations and losing to Italy than having an ex Leinster coach In charge.
You should be ashamed of yourselves