Provinces make it all systems go for Joe

THE most satisfied man in Irish rugby last Sunday night was Joe Schmidt. On a weekend that saw the return to action of Rory Best, Conor Murray, Simon Zebo and Cian Healy, following hot on the heals of Chris Henry and Tommy O’Donnell, Ireland’s squad for the upcoming Six Nations — announced yesterday with all bar Zebo included — received a serious boost.

Yet after the manner and significance of that heartbreaking defeat to New Zealand, I would venture to suggest it was the mental strength shown by Munster and Leinster on the road in highly demanding circumstances at Kingsholm and the Stade Pierre Antoine that pleased Schmidt the most. If Ireland want to make a serious impact on this season’s championship, they will have to negotiate difficult assignments in Twickenham and Stade de France respectively.

Last weekend was a good start, not that the players have given any serious thought to those encounters against England and France just yet. Before that can happen, one last crucial round of Heineken Cup games must be negotiated. The prospect of going into Irish camp with Munster, Ulster and Leinster all having made the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup will provide a massive boost to the squad. The only downside? A strong possibility that all three could be facing away quarter-finals when they head back to the provinces post international duty.