Schmidt: I had to choose new centres because of 'very brief' preparation

Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne start on Saturday

Grainne McGuinness and Shaun Cronin

Ireland rugby coach Joe Schmidt said the amount of preparation time available was the deciding factor in his choice of centres for Ireland’s match against South Africa at the weekend.

The pairing of Robbie Henshaw at 12 and Jared Payne at 13 was the most eye-catching selection at the

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He said that the two were the strongest combination available when the squad first joined up, and once they were training well together he didn’t want to endanger that with changes.

“We have a very small window for preparation, we come together to prepare for a very brief time,” he explained. “We felt we were part-way along a pathway that was looking reasonably positive.”

Joe Schmidt training today with the squad

Schmidt said this thinking was the reason Gordon D’Arcy was left out of the matchday squad entirely.

D’Arcy had been working to return to fitness after a knock picked up playing for Leinster against Castres and Schmidt acknowledged that he probably was fit enough to play a part in Saturday’s game.

“We did feel that he would make it in time for this weekend and he probably has,” said Schmidt, “but just the time and working on those combinations.

“It was going to be a new pairing no matter what happened and we decided to go with what we had the most time to prepare with.”

The Ireland head coach said D’Arcy had still played an important part in the training and preparations during the week.

“To be fair to Gordon D’Arcy he’s helped immeasurably,” he said. “I think he’s been a really good mentor for Robbie and Jared this week.”

Schmidt was unimpressed with suggestions that Henshaw, with three caps, and previously uncapped Payne lacked the experience for a match against such strong opposition.

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“There’s never going to be a perfect time,” he added. “But the quality of play that both have provided over the past two years, we’ve gone into it with confidence that they will give a good account of themselves.

“I think it’s a great test for them and there’s no doubt they will be very much tested.”