Schmidt launches passionate defence of overseas-born players after controversial Kleyn selection

Pichot's take on the decision, aired via Twitter on Monday, follows on from his assertion last week that the world rankings were “ridiculous” given Warren Gatland's Wales had usurped New Zealand as No.1 despite never having beaten the All Blacks.

Joe Schmidt has launched a long and impassioned counter to Augustin Pichot's claim that Devin Toner should feel hard-done by the decision to omit him from the World Cup squad in favour of Jean Kleyn.

Kleyn only qualified for Ireland in the week of the first warm-up game against Italy, late last month. Still capped just twice, Munster's South African-born and raised lock has been chosen ahead of Toner who played 60 times for Schmidt alone in the course of a glittering Irish career.