Joe Schmidt insists players picked on Test experience for tour to South Africa

Joe Schmidt has defended his decision to take only five players from Pro12 champions Connacht on Ireland’s tour to South Africa next week, insisting those travelling have been picked on proven Test experience, not reputation.

Schmidt has been criticised for picking just a quintet from Pat Lam’s squad, which outgunned Leinster 20-10 in last Saturday’s Pro12 final at Murrayfield.

The Ireland head coach selected 14 players with Test experience from the losing finalists last week ahead of next month’s three-Test series against the Springboks, although yesterday he was forced to jettison versatile back Luke Fitzgerald, who succumbed to yet another injury in Edinburgh — suspected grade two medial knee ligament damage ruling him out of the tour.