Wolfhounds give Schmidt selection headache

England Saxons 8 Ireland Wolfhounds 14

With a stiff breeze in the air and a glue pot of a pitch underfoot, Saturday’s win against a strong Saxons side did not, perhaps, provide the ideal conditions for Ireland’s fringe players to stake a claim to a place in next weekend’s Test 23. Yet the hard-fought win, the resilience in defence, the opportunism of their two tries and strength of character in adversity all pointed to a deepening of a playing pool more than ready for the highest levels of international rugby. There are limited places available for Schmidt’s Six Nations coaching debut next weekend, but he will have left Kingsholm satisfied his wider group of players are fit for purpose.

As for the immediate problems ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Scots, Schmidt will have seen selection issues intensify with those squad members left behind at Carton House over the weekend given plenty food for thought heading into this week’s final training sessions by their rivals’ performances against the Saxons.