JOE SCHMIDT DISMISSED the notion that Ireland had any doubts about selecting Paddy Jackson for tomorrow’s November Test against Canada at the Aviva Stadium [KO 7.15pm, RTÉ 2].
Last week saw Jackson and his Ulster team-mate Stuart Olding deny any wrongdoing after the BBC reported that the pair were arrested and questioned by the PSNI over alleged sexual offences in June.
Jackson starts at out-half for Ireland tomorrow. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Jackson did not travel to Chicago with Ireland for their clash against the All Blacks last weekend, with the IRFU citing “personal reasons” for his absence.
While Olding remains on the comeback trail from injury, Jackson is back in the Ireland team for tomorrow’s meeting with the Canadians and Schmidt felt there was no reason not to pick him.
“With Paddy, he’s been utterly positive,” said Schmidt. “He’s a guy who we invested in heavily in South Africa and saw some real progress leading up to that first Test match.
We saw some real opportunities for him to learn in those next two Test matches. It’s not for us to be thinking about things externally because, at this stage, Paddy has not been charged and he’s involved.”
After Joey Carbery’s promising debut off the bench against the All Blacks last weekend, Jackson will be keen to underline his quality and authority against Canada tomorrow.
Schmidt does not believe that the external situation around Jackson will be a distraction.
“With Paddy, if you’re immersed in something, then you’re fully immersed in it,” said Schmidt. “That’s what takes your waking concentration.
There’s a lot of demands on the 10 position in any team. He’s trained really well. I’m expecting a really good performance from him.”
Advertisement
Jackson is part of an exciting Ireland team, with Jack O’Donoghue, Billy Holland and Garry Ringrose set for their Test debuts.
Ringrose makes his Ireland debut tomorrow. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
All three players have been part of Joe Schmidt’s extended squads in recent times, but now get their opportunities to impress on matchday.
“I first saw Garry in his Senior Cup year playing for Blackrock College,” said Schmidt of Ringrose. “He was kicking goals then from all over the place. I thought he had a super game in the final and was really impressive.
“I thought he was very lean, but again I thought he was quite a natural footballer and so, I felt there was some talent there without a doubt.”
O’Donoghue takes over from Jamie Heaslip at number eight, and is a another player who Schmidt has been watching for some time.
“Jack first impressed me at U20 level, particularly when he led the U20s in New Zealand [in 2014],” said Schmidt. “They got through and played in the semi-final in that tournament in Auckland and then they lost the third-fourth play-off, when he was injured for that.
“But I’d seen him play through that tournament and was impressed with him, and I spoke to him out at that tournament and he impressed me as a guy who was very level-headed and very driven to get to the highest level he possibly could.”
Holland, meanwhile, makes his debut at the age of 31, having spent almost a decade working hard with Munster.
“Billy, I remember him playing in an international of sorts for Munster [against Australia in 2010] where he was outstanding on a very wet night, work-rate wise, and I’ve kept a bit of an eye on him ever since then.
“The problem for Billy was that he disappeared again because he was behind the likes of Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan and Mick O’Driscoll and Donnacha Ryan, who were all long-time internationals. So for him to get his opportunity was very much squeezed, but he stuck it out and he’s done well this year.”
Holland makes his Ireland debut at 31. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
There may be five further new Ireland caps off the bench with Dan Leavy, Luke McGrath, James Tracy, Niyi Adeolokun and John Ryan waiting in the wings.
“We are always looking,” said Schmidt of welcoming the new faces in. “You maybe play a dozen Tests a year so you don’t get too many windows to actually allow people to put their hand up other than watching them very closely in Europe and particularly in the [inter-provincial] derby games or the top four or six of the Pro12.
“You are always watching them. But to play at the next level up, that is where you want to see them and that is where the opportunity allows us to do it this week.
“At the same time, the guys who delivered last week and who are not available this week have also given us good service so we are always trying to mix and match.
“Hopefully over the next year or so in the Six Nations, then the US and Japan tour coming up, we will be able to work our way through that group and have a really good look at that.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
'Paddy hasn't been charged' - Schmidt backs Jackson for Ireland
JOE SCHMIDT DISMISSED the notion that Ireland had any doubts about selecting Paddy Jackson for tomorrow’s November Test against Canada at the Aviva Stadium [KO 7.15pm, RTÉ 2].
Last week saw Jackson and his Ulster team-mate Stuart Olding deny any wrongdoing after the BBC reported that the pair were arrested and questioned by the PSNI over alleged sexual offences in June.
Jackson did not travel to Chicago with Ireland for their clash against the All Blacks last weekend, with the IRFU citing “personal reasons” for his absence.
While Olding remains on the comeback trail from injury, Jackson is back in the Ireland team for tomorrow’s meeting with the Canadians and Schmidt felt there was no reason not to pick him.
“With Paddy, he’s been utterly positive,” said Schmidt. “He’s a guy who we invested in heavily in South Africa and saw some real progress leading up to that first Test match.
After Joey Carbery’s promising debut off the bench against the All Blacks last weekend, Jackson will be keen to underline his quality and authority against Canada tomorrow.
Schmidt does not believe that the external situation around Jackson will be a distraction.
“With Paddy, if you’re immersed in something, then you’re fully immersed in it,” said Schmidt. “That’s what takes your waking concentration.
Jackson is part of an exciting Ireland team, with Jack O’Donoghue, Billy Holland and Garry Ringrose set for their Test debuts.
All three players have been part of Joe Schmidt’s extended squads in recent times, but now get their opportunities to impress on matchday.
“I first saw Garry in his Senior Cup year playing for Blackrock College,” said Schmidt of Ringrose. “He was kicking goals then from all over the place. I thought he had a super game in the final and was really impressive.
“I thought he was very lean, but again I thought he was quite a natural footballer and so, I felt there was some talent there without a doubt.”
O’Donoghue takes over from Jamie Heaslip at number eight, and is a another player who Schmidt has been watching for some time.
“Jack first impressed me at U20 level, particularly when he led the U20s in New Zealand [in 2014],” said Schmidt. “They got through and played in the semi-final in that tournament in Auckland and then they lost the third-fourth play-off, when he was injured for that.
“But I’d seen him play through that tournament and was impressed with him, and I spoke to him out at that tournament and he impressed me as a guy who was very level-headed and very driven to get to the highest level he possibly could.”
Holland, meanwhile, makes his debut at the age of 31, having spent almost a decade working hard with Munster.
“Billy, I remember him playing in an international of sorts for Munster [against Australia in 2010] where he was outstanding on a very wet night, work-rate wise, and I’ve kept a bit of an eye on him ever since then.
“The problem for Billy was that he disappeared again because he was behind the likes of Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan and Mick O’Driscoll and Donnacha Ryan, who were all long-time internationals. So for him to get his opportunity was very much squeezed, but he stuck it out and he’s done well this year.”
There may be five further new Ireland caps off the bench with Dan Leavy, Luke McGrath, James Tracy, Niyi Adeolokun and John Ryan waiting in the wings.
“We are always looking,” said Schmidt of welcoming the new faces in. “You maybe play a dozen Tests a year so you don’t get too many windows to actually allow people to put their hand up other than watching them very closely in Europe and particularly in the [inter-provincial] derby games or the top four or six of the Pro12.
“You are always watching them. But to play at the next level up, that is where you want to see them and that is where the opportunity allows us to do it this week.
“At the same time, the guys who delivered last week and who are not available this week have also given us good service so we are always trying to mix and match.
“Hopefully over the next year or so in the Six Nations, then the US and Japan tour coming up, we will be able to work our way through that group and have a really good look at that.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Here’s the Canada team that will start against Ireland on Saturday
Opening November Test against England comes too soon for Ireland captain Briggs
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Ireland Not Charged November Tests out-half Paddy Jackson PJ Canada