Schmidt expects a spiky, physical battle

Joe Schmidt would have been foolish not to factor the expected high-intensity physicality between his Ireland side and the All Blacks tomorrow into his preparations for this sell-out blockbuster.

So much so, given the feisty meeting between the two sides in Dublin in 2016, you almost expected the name C McGregor (Unattached/UFC) to appear on the teamsheet the head coach unveiled yesterday.

Now think of the intrigue that fantasy coach-athlete interaction would produce.

Instead, there were four rather more orthodox changes by Schmidt to the side which saw off Argentina 28-17 in last weekend’s Guinness Series opener at the Aviva Stadium.

Two were to cover injuries to Sean O’Brien and Robbie Henshaw, one to fix weaknesses in the Irish lineout exposed in the win over the Pumas, and another with the purpose of adding much-needed experience for this considerable step up in challenge.

Dan Leavy is the man to replace O’Brien at openside flanker just as he did off the bench when last Saturday’s starter broke his forearm before half-time.

That despite Leavy missing training himself yesterday as management seek to manage his workload after a fortnight which saw him travel with Leinster to South Africa in search of post-injury recovery gametime.

Henshaw was injured in the warm-up last weekend and has been ruled out for the rest of the November test window with a hamstring problem.

He was replaced at outside centre by first-time test starter Will Addison in time for the kick-off against Argentina.

Schmidt has left the Ulster back out of his matchday 23 for this weekend, instead naming Garry Ringrose after he recovered from a knock to his hip.

The other two changes come at lock and full-back, with Devin Toner returning to the second row at the expense of Iain Henderson, who drops to the bench, and Rob Kearney resuming as the starting 15 in place of Jordan Larmour.

Damian McKenzie during a New Zealand Rugby squad training session at Abbotstown in Dublin. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

Toner, set for his 63rd cap, has been brought in to shore up a lineout that fell well short of the usual high standards under pressure from the Pumas, while Kearney will win his 87th cap having overcome a shoulder injury.

It is clearly a selection based on its ability to adequately handle the physical and mental rigours of what Schmidt is sure will be another “spiky” contest between the two sides.

Ireland will face a New Zealand side which left their mark on them two years ago on their last visit to Dublin when they exacted a brutal revenge for their defeat in Chicago a fortnight earlier.

It was a 21-9 victory for Steve Hansen’s men, achieved amid some over-the-edge physicality that went largely unpunished by match referee Jaco Peyper, but also saw Robbie Henshaw, CJ Stander, and Johnny Sexton injured inside the opening 20 minutes.

Some of the decisions made by the South African official that day “befuddled everybody”, said Schmidt.

“I think (a spiky contest) is inevitable because I think we have to physically front up in these sort of fixtures and you know, to be honest, if you look back at 2016 I felt we really did.

“At that stage, we had just had pretty clear diktat that player safety was paramount. We felt in that game felt that more could have been done to make sure that was delivered. Anyone watching can make their own decisions.

At the time we said nothing about it because we got beaten fair and square on the day and when beaten fair and square, the last thing you’re going to do is come out and question things. You have to give respect to the team that has got the better of you...

“We have no complaints about that. We have admiration, frustration that it occurred, but in the context of what we had been told it was not in line with that.

“We’d had a few guys who did get knocked about in that game. If it is spiky, it’s something that Barnesy (referee Wayne Barnes) is well able to cope with. He is one of the most experienced refs in international rugby.

“He is the ideal man to sort it out if something needs to be sorted out. I don’t predict there will be something that needs to be sorted out. The All Blacks want to play positively, they do play positively.

“I don’t think they give up too many cards of any colour and we like to think the same, It doesn’t mean it doesn’t get spiky.

"It can be within the rules, spiky and physical. Same as Argentina, spike and physical but nothing untoward.

“That is exactly what it will be like, not outside the remit of what has been set down as regards player welfare. But within that, they won’t be looking after each other too well but that is the nature of the game.

"It is a collision sport. I know their boys can’t wait to get into it and our boys are the same.”

Team.

Here's the Ireland team for Saturday. COME ON IRELAND!#TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder #IREvNZL pic.twitter.com/Z8xuScwLlB

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 15, 2018

🎙️ TEAM NAMING | Here is your All Blacks 23 to take on Ireland in a clash between the world's number one and number two ranked sides this weekend.

READ ➡️ https://t.co/PuSENRA7Dh#IREvNZL 🇳🇿☘️ pic.twitter.com/IZ8osTqFyl

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) November 15, 2018