Joe Schmidt aiming to keep momentum going
Guinness Series
Aviva Stadium, 5.30pm
Jérôme Garcès
RTÉ 2, Sky Sports 2
Ireland 4/5, Australia 11/10, Draw 17/1
A first victory in South Africa during the summer and finally beating the All Blacks after 111 years of trying three weeks ago represent epic achievements for Ireland and head coach Schmidt, particularly given the players absent from both performances.
That would be enough for many to adopt a relaxed attitude ahead of this final Guinness Series encounter, but even with stretched resources following a bruising rematch last Saturday with New Zealand, there is a hunger for more. When 2015 World Cup finalists Australia, ranked one place higher than the Irish at the third in the world rankings, step out at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow, Schmidt is looking to finish the calendar year on another high point.
With Sexton and Robbie Henshaw sidelined by injury and Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo’s fitness in need of management, Schmidt yesterday made four changes to the side which went toe-to-toe with the All Blacks for a second time in Dublin last weekend only to come up short in a 21-9 defeat.
It means a start at fly-half for Paddy Jackson, who made for an impressive stand-in for Sexton in South Africa, and a run for Garry Ringrose at inside centre, having deputised admirably for Henshaw when he was injured 10 minutes into last week’s game. Henderson comes into the second row for Ryan, while Zebo moves to the bench, having come off with cramp late into the previous game and Keith Earls replaces his Munster colleague on the left wing.
The changes, though, will not alter the need to finish on a high and make just a little bit more history with a win over all three southern superpowers in the same year.
“It’s hugely important, especially when you’ve got pivotal players who aren’t available, who have been part of the spine of the team for so long,” said Schmidt. “We’ve worked our way through without having those players available. You’re still Ireland. You’re still a national team and you still take that much pride and these players really do take pride.”
“It’s incredibly hard not to get emotionally caught up with how much effort they’re making and how keen you are to make sure that continues and they get some reward for it. You’re just trying to help them get the reward that they deserve from rolling their sleeves up. I know everyone is but there’s kids coming into this side that are pretty wide-eyed and if they can gain more experience this weekend, that’s incremental.
“I said right at the start [of the month] that Chicago would be a reference point for us. I don’t think, result aside, we got too far from the reference point last weekend. I don’t think that we cowered or we got knocked off our game too far, despite losing those three guys in the first 20 minutes and despite how physical the New Zealanders were...
“I’d like to think we can finish really positively, in a similar vein, and it would be great to get the result. It would be a bit historic. If we could get a result against Australia after getting a result in Cape Town and getting a result in Chicago we could really say that we’ve got some kids who are coming through and we’re building something that will endure, leading further into next year and the year after.”
For Earls, who returned from suspension with a try against Canada a fortnight ago, the onus is to at least match the performance levels seen against the All Blacks.
“That’s the plan. It’s unfortunate for Zeebs. I spoke with him. We’re good buddies and there is nothing different about our relationship. I spoke with him briefly. We were straight on messing and he was slagging me. That’s just the way it is.
“For us, we know that the pressure is there after beating the All Blacks. It’s just about consistent performances. It’s not about who you beat. It’s about being as consistent and as good as we can be. We’re a good side when things go right for us and we are all clued in.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
