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.”
Sickening how they’re dragging people over there and exploiting them by providing rakes of cash, world class facilities and a great lifestyle.
@The Guru: doubt the rakes of cash but everything else ok.
@Ger Buckley: if they’re any good it’s very lucrative. The average player salary is $370k.
@The Guru: He hasn’t a problem with that, he said he wouldn’t begrudge any of them going over that. His problem lies with the explayers, recruiting for the AFL, this is a valid point. In saying that the GAA needs to start thinking about financially rewarding players, at least the ones who get as far as a provincial final and so on.
How dare they offer them a wage for working. What is this world coming to.
Time to pay our inter county players on s semi-pro basis
He’s always whinging about something. Why wouldn’t ex GAA players do the recruiting. They are as he said ex players who have possibly given 10 to 15 years of their lives to the GAA without financial reward. If they now can make a few euros off the back of that then more luck to them.
@Manbackonboard: the last 20 years players are being poached from other counties and he has said nothing, now that it’s his own county he pipes up
@Patrick O Connell: wrong Patrick. He has always been against any kind of association with the afl. Constantly ridiculed the compromised rules series as he felt it was just an opportunity for the afl to poach players
@Patrick O Connell: he’s always been against it. Kyle Coney and Conor Mckenna are two of the more recent Tyrone players that had and have been snapped up by AFL. Coney took a few years to find his GAA form after returning from AFL. Mckenna is flying at Essendon
If St Jim Gavin made this point it would be taken as gospel but the fact it’s Mickey making the point means ‘ah sure he’s just whinging again’
@Mel Roberts: that’s a load of pony Mel, Gavin got as much stick as Mickey does if not more just because he’s a Dub.
ps: welcome back
@Mel Roberts: Not really though, but sure that’s more of the Tyrone “siege mentality” muck you’re usually spouting.
@my name: he definitely got nowhere near the stick Mickey has got over the years. Not even close. Only thing Gavin has ever got stick about is the fact he very rarely offers an opinion on anything. Just gave the media the usual sound bites so dunno how Gavin got any stick for offering his opinion when he never ever gave one. The league starting shortly, have to come back stir the pot for another while
@Mel Roberts: Gavin would just wish the player well
@John O Reilly: might have known you’d have to have a dig at harte. Favourite pass time of yours
The lad is 24 so he’s had time to have a good look at what’s here & what he could potentially make over there. At the end of the day it’s a big decision leaving family & friends but it is a personal decision so the best of luck to him whatever he decides. He’d be a big loss to Tyrone but maybe it’s time for some big company to offer him a job here that entices him to stay or maybe he wants to live the professional life for a while.
He’d be on less then 150k if that easily as a category B rookie he couldn’t command anything near 350k till his next contract, thats even if he makes it. Plus he would have to put in some exceptional seasons on top of that, if he is going to the Brisbane lions it will be big up hill battle to break into a top 4 team which busting at the seams with top end talent
@John Walsh: 150k as opposed to what exactly,nothing for playing for Tyrone,and swelling the GAA’s coffers !
@Gerry Campbell: I’m not against him making a $ more power to the all the players that cross codes just that commentary around it makes people believe gaa players are going to make big dollars over here its not that simple and he is a long way off from doing so, just as much as anyone else who takes a punt on an afl career.
Players like pearce hanley got big dollars because they went to poor clubs and had to be payed overs to keep talent like him which hasn’t worked out for the club in the long term because there a basket case.
But someone like zac touhy earned his big dollars after multiple good seasons at carlton who low balled him with a contract offer and geelong swooped in with an offer he couldn’t refuse.
@John Walsh: who said that it was going to be easy? All anyone is saying is good luck to him in his pursuit of those dollars.
And Mickey is not complaining about ex players getting lucrative management and training positions off the backs of current players
@Joe Clery: sorry Joe but that’s not exactly the issue at hand so why would Mickey offer an opinion on that whenever it’s got nothing to do with mcahane going to oz?
Every player is entitled to a free choice where they play Good luck to everyone
@pat seery: absolutely pat. And Mickey would agree with you too.
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Why shouldn’t Mcshane go he’s only 24 let him go get some sun in his bones and see how the other half play, if he doesn’t go he might regret it and then hate GAA and all to do with it go get it out of his system and then come back and for Tyrone if that’s what he wants Mcshane has to decide no one else can decide for him.
@Moya Power-kelly: nobody is saying he shouldn’t go Moya.