JOE SCHMIDT SAYS a decision on Ireland’s World Cup captaincy has not been finalised yet but highlighted that he and his coaching team are ignoring “external noise” about Rory Best’s form.
The Ireland skipper, who has been captain since 2016, has faced criticism after his performance in his team’s heavy defeat to England at Twickenham last weekend, with some critics questioning his place in the side at the age of 37.
Asked whether a decision on Best captaining Ireland to the World Cup has been finalised, Schmidt indicated that wasn’t the case.
“No roles have been finalised for the World Cup until we name our 31 later on next week, so no one takes anything for granted,” said Schmidt yesterday.
“Rory is currently captain and he’ll continue to be captain until further notice really and if that notice comes in the short-term, then that’s a discussion I’ll have with Rory but, at this stage, it’s not on our agenda.”
It does seem highly unlikely that Best will be removed from his role as captain, having led Ireland to major successes in recent years, with the 2018 Grand Slam, two wins over the All Blacks and a maiden Test win against the Springboks on South African soil among his achievements.
Schmidt has been loyal to – and very often rewarded by – the Ulster man, who will retire following the World Cup, although the Ireland coach did underline that no one’s position within the Ireland set-up was a given.
Best was due to carry out a commercial engagement today, until his appearance was cancelled at late notice yesterday and he could now be involved in Ireland’s clash with Wales on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong was also pulled from a separate planned commercial event today.
“It’s a little bit of extra time for those guys to get a little bit more conditioning and that’s kind of player-requested,” explained Schmidt, after “increased training commitments” was cited by the PR firm as the reason Best pulled out of his appearance.
“They feel like they just need to catch up a little bit more and because one of the rules the players came up with was that they don’t do commercial gigs during match weeks they’re involved with. It probably gives you a good indication that those guys think they might be involved, so they are trying to get everything they can in the right shape so they can be as competitive as they can be on Saturday.”
With Niall Scannell likely to have an opportunity to show his qualities from the start against Wales this weekend, it appears Best could be used off the bench at the Principality Stadium.
Munster man Scannell will be eager to grab his opportunity and convince Schmidt that he should be a genuine starting option at the World Cup, while Sean Cronin and Rob Herring are the other hooker options for Ireland.
And while Schmidt indicated that Ireland are ignoring the criticism of Best, he did stress that form was important going into the World Cup.
“To be honest, if there is external noise of that nature then there is no internal noise of that nature,” said Schmidt.
“Probably for Rory, it is that internal noise that is most relevant to him because that is where the decisions are going to be made and, at this stage, there are no decisions that have been made in that direction.
“So, there are guys who are going to get an opportunity this weekend and if they perform better than any player who played last weekend, then there is always a contest and you have got to keep that contest alive.”
James Ryan is a natural choice but the WC is coming a bit soon for it. I wouldn’t like Sexton as captain as I think he plays and leads better without. POM if he was in better form you would think.
@Brian O’Driscoll: cian healy or keith earls wouldn’t be bad candidates. Never let ireland diwn even when the rest of the team usually do
@Brian O’Driscoll: don’t think it’s too soon at all. Could be refreshing to have young leadership. Warbburton was a similar age in 2011 and they should have made the final.
@Brian O’Driscoll: James Ryan would a really interesting option
@Brian O’Driscoll: Ryan definitely has the pedigree. It would be unusual for JS to award captaincy to someone so young and relatively inexperienced. He’s usually cautious like that. Rob Kearney is a potential captain. I agree, at any other time it would be a no brainer, give it to POM but unless he has a big game in one of the next two tests his starting position could be under threat. Personally I’d like to see Ryan get it. As long as its not Johnny. He’s just too mouthy.
@Ger: Ryan seems the natural choice at the moment. Jonny and POM would probably still make all the decisions, but what a standard bearer!! and BOD, you’ve got a point about Jonny being too mouthy. My favourite moment was him telling gauzere, ‘i know you don’t like me, but you’ve still got to talk to me’
The only guaranteed starters who have actually played well in 2019 are Cian Healy and James Ryan. With all due respect to Cian, there’s only one option to be the captain.
@sup: it is reallt strange to have our captain effectively already retired but there are no outstanding candidates other than sexton and he does that anyhow with or without title. I don’t get impression Ryan is a very vocal guy. Leads by actions which is fine. I cant imagine him giving a “fear of god” type pre match speech. Maybe he will grow into that but def too early now.
@Kevin McCarthy: BOD never struck me as the type to give that chat either. There’s many different types of leadership, and actions often speak louder than words. Ryan would also be better at working the ref than someone like Sexton, that’s for sure.
@Kevin McCarthy: Can’t imagine Best lisping out a fear of God speech either so that shouldn’t be a factor . In any case those speeches can have more impact on tv viewers than on players in the dressing room .
In my opinion i’d love to see Garry Ringrose as captain. He has everybodies respect. Word on the grapevine is he works super hard in training be it with Leinster or Ireland.
James Ryan would be an interesting captain.
Would be interesting to see who Joe would pick as captain at the world cup instead of Best. (If he had to)
@Donal Peoples: Yea Sexton certain to start but has his issues as captain. O’Mahoney probably best choice but not a cert to start anymore
@Luke walkee: Ruddock, if he can get in the team ahead of PO’M, would be perfect. Big argument as to whether you’d drop PO’M.
@Cian Nolan: he’s a good captain but he might struggle to make the squad. I think if JS brings Klein it will be at the expense of a backrow. Beirne will be brought as a 2nd row/back row hybrid and Ruddock would be the most likely casualty. Personally I didn’t see anything from Klein against England or Italy that merits his place in the squad but JS seems to like him.
The main thing is Best should be left at home. No matter what his friends in the media say
If Rory isn’t captain there’s no need for him to travel.
Captain is a PR position who primary role is dealing with the media. Best is captain of the team but there are plenty of players who are leaders within the squad already. Dumping Best as captain would just create a media storm. Keep him in the position and if needs be he doesn’t have to start the big games.
@Eddie Hekenui: Have your (uninjured) captain on the bench for the World Cup? Sure then you have to make someone else who’s actually on the pitch captain anyway, so now you’ve two lads with their authority undermined. Plus you’re reinforcing a belief that some people are undroppable no matter what.
@Pseud O’Nym: Too much stock is placed in the idea of a captain as this leader and tone setter when it’s largely a symbolic role just dealing with the referee on the pitch, the media off the pitch and representing the players in the management group.
When BOD was captain it was often POC who would take the final team talk and be the vocal leader on the pitch. When there were fractures in the squad in 2009 it was Rob Kearney who stepped up and forced a honest discussion on the squad dynamic. Peter O’Mahony regularly takes a vocal role in the build up to games as does Sexton. Ireland have a team packed with leaders and having Best as squad captain but not in the starting team would have very little impact on that.
Just sit back and watch him answer his critics.
None of the other hookers come close and couldn’t lace his boots.
For me we need to be looking at the new breed of young hookers coming through
Ruddock would be my choice at this stage. Nothing special as a player but at least you realise he’s playing as opposed to POM and Best. Sexton is too much of a spoilt brat.
Jim Ryan