Ireland hopefuls earn valuable game-time

Joe Schmidt is hoping PRO12 game time can give his Test hopefuls the perfect platform for a winning end to Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations campaign.

Ireland’s preparations for the last two fixtures against Italy and Scotland, both at home, began in earnest last night when head coach Schmidt welcomed back around 34 players to Carton House ahead of Saturday’s Aviva Stadium clash with the Italians.

Schmidt will issue a squad list this morning once the IRFU medical staff have assessed the fitness of those players involved with their provinces in Guinness Pro12 action over the weekend.

Of the 23-man matchday squad which lost 21-10 to England at Twickenham nine days ago, Schmidt released eight players whom he felt would benefit from additional game minutes.

Those included starting tighthead prop Mike Ross and replacement loosehead Cian Healy who had continued their comebacks from injury against the English, and all eight appeared to come through their league games without incident as all four provinces claimed victories.

Schmidt said last week that the Pro12 weekend was “another opportunity for them to get game fit because some of the guys who have come back into the squad, even the starting team, haven’t had much game time.

“We felt we were maybe a couple of runs short. This gives us an opportunity to get them back, get a little bit more time under their belt and hopefully that will pay dividends in the last two Six Nations games.”

With his squad hit by numerous injuries prior to and during the championship and the set-piece floundering at Twickenham, Schmidt needs all the depth he can get to his squad and has handed Test debuts to CJ Stander, Stuart McCloskey, Josh van der Flier and Ultan Dillane.

Their impressive introductions could mean further chances in the remaining two games, and possibly more personnel changes, as Schmidt continues to adapt to life without experienced frontliners including Sean O’Brien.

Ireland’s openside flanker suffered a grade two hamstring tear in the opening 20 minutes against France in round two and said at the weekend he’D be back “in a few weeks”, for Leinster as they close in on a Pro12 play-off place and he bids to earn his place on Ireland’s three-Test June tour to South Africa.

“I’m feeling good, rehabbing away. All’s good. I’ll hopefully be back in a few weeks,” O’Brien, 29, said.

“It was just one of those freakish things, it wasn’t in contact and that’s the way it happened. I will just keep the head down and keep working hard. I have them done before when I was younger, but it’s Grade 2 so it’s not ideal. But they are very common.

“It wasn’t ideal but that’s the way it is, and it’s part of rugby these days, injuries. I just have to keep working hard and get back as soon as I can for the province and look forward to a summer tour, hopefully.”

O’Brien had missed the opening Six Nations clash with Wales having withdrawn with a tight hamstring, only to tear it the following week in Paris.

Speaking at the opening of Supermac’s Galway Plaza near Loughrea, O’Brien will not be rushing back ahead of schedule.

“It’s one of those ones where you come back when it’s completely right. There will be no risk taken. From the first week, it was a bit tight, to tearing it properly. I don’t want that again.”