Some of Joe Schmidt’s selection calls have left a lot to be desired. The former Leinster coach has approached his selections with a conservatism and a lack of progressiveness. Here are in my opinion, some of Joe Schmidt’s worst selection calls.
1. Leaving Stuart McCloskey at home
Stuart McCloskey’s sheer size should surely have been utilised for this series. The Bangor Beast has been used to devastating effect by Ulster in both the European challenge cup and the pro 12. Stuart McCloskey’s form warranted selection and one wonders whether his 110kg frame from the bench would have shored up Ireland’s defence in the second Test.
2. Picking Mike Ross over Tadhg Furlong
Ross’s scrummaging has declined and his dancing feet and offloading ability can only get him so far. Mike Ross, the renowned Playstation gamer, has served Ireland with great intelligence and power over his Irish career. Ross was badly exposed by Tendai Mtawarira and no longer can he claim to be Ireland’s best No.3. With Tadhg Furlong scrummaging so well in the second Test, questions have to be asked why was he dropped?
3. Leaving Gareth Steenson at home
Ian Madigan has had arguably his worst season to date this year. As a result of this, it was no wonder that Schmidt was reluctant to bring him on in the second Test. This was despite Jackson’s tiring defence. In contrast to Madigan’s form was Gareth Steenson’s. The former Ulster player was nominated for player of year in the Aviva Premiership. If Steenson had come on to the field as a substitute he could have added to Ireland’s game management skills.
4. Not giving Ultan Dillane a start
Did Devon Toner really have to start all three Tests? Dillane has been the most in form Irish second rower this year. He had a physical impact from the bench in both the first and third Tests. The Kerry man has all the physical attributes to play as both a tighthead lock and a loosehead lock. He has an offloading and running ability which is rare for an Irish second rower.
5. Back three Selctions
As good as Andrew Trimble and Keith Earls are defensively, neither have posed a serious try threat in 2016. If Ireland are striving to push on as a rugby team they will need players with genuine threat and pace. Luckily for Ireland, they have an abundance of players with both pace and threat. At Connacht alone there is Niyi Adeolokun, Matt Healy and Tiernan O’Halloran.
Ireland have an interesting double header coming up against New Zealand in September and will need more creativity if they are to challenge the almighty.
The Irish team to challenge the All Blacks in September
15. Jared Payne
14. Matt Healy
13. Luke Marshall
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Craig Gilroy
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Kieran Marmion
8. Sean O’Brien
7. Peter O’Mahony
6. CJ. Stander
5. Ultan Dillane
4. Ian Henderson
3. Finlay Bealham
2. Rory Best
1. Denis Buckley
Subs: 16. Sean Cronin, 17. Jack McGrath, 18. Tadhg Furlong, 19. Quinn Roux, 20. Rhys Ruddock, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Paddy Jackson, 23. Robbie Henshaw.
Derm
Roar Guru
Luke Fitzgerald has retired from rugby. Suffered a neck injury in the PRO 12 final and doctors recommended he retire from the game. Pity - when he was on form, he was devastating for Leinster and Ireland.
redbull
Guest
Heaslip did play very well in the 3rd test, but yes it would be better to have Stander at 8 and O'Mahony at 6 rather than try and convert him to a 7.
redbull
Guest
That is a really smart move by world rugby. The worlds best team and the proxy locals
Mike
Guest
It's the All Blacks on neutral ground! Test experience is the only way to go for this first game. That means starting the likes of Trimble and Fitzgerald (who have plenty more to offer!). This is the All Blacks we're talking about you have to be very carefully selecting inexperienced players. I wouldn't be surprised if Schmidt even reverts back to Henshaw - Payne in midfield! Give the old warriors a chance in Chicago...if they can't do the business...you have 3 more test at home to look at alternatives. I'm sure we can agree on one thing though. It's time to give Stander the 8 jersey next season. Heaslip must stand aside. He can be second choice.. But he must stand aside!
Colm
Roar Guru
ha ha if that's the case play them, like ye did Ireland, on the Mafadi mountain.
Harry Jones
Expert
Colm, I think the Rugby Championship has been renamed: "The Can Anyone Even Bother NZ Contest."
Colm
Roar Guru
Agreed, another man that looks impressive is Pieter-Steph du Toit. Where do ye make these guys? Good luck to the Springboks in the Rugby championship, I will be cheering for the springboks, ye plucky underdogs!!!
Colm
Roar Guru
Mike, I don't understand why Schmidt would sugercoat McCloskey's injury. Do you know exactly what injury he has or does he just need a rest like Johnny Holland? I think Schmidt's statement regarding him needing time off, was made because he thinks McCloskey needs to improve. Agreed re subs and I like the team you picked, but I still think the Irish team lacks the point of difference needed to beat the All Blacks. Throw in Buckley, Bealham, Gilroy and Matt Healy and you have a team with good ball handling skills amongst the forwards and genuine pace in the backs. With a more skilled, ball handling, front five hopefully we will be able to execute better the overlaps we created but failed to finish against the Springboks.
Harry Jones
Expert
I get it. Ruddock is impressive!
Mike
Guest
Colm... Mccloskey was injured..do you not understand this?? He played for Ulster in the pro 12 semi final injured and played badly. Schmidt said before the tour mccloskey needed the time off. The subs needed to come on earlier..it was very frustrating seeing dillane and ruddock coming on with only 10 mins! Team for November... McGrath, best, furlong, Henderson, toner, o'mahony, O'Brien, stander, Murrey, sexton, Fitzgerald, Marshall, Henshaw, Trimble, Payne
Colm
Roar Guru
On a side note, Ireland will not play New Zealand in September, the first match will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the Soldier Field and Saturday, November 19, 2016 at the Aviva Stadium.
Colm
Roar Guru
Cheers for the comment Harry, and again pertinent points. I suppose it's disappointing from an Irish perspective, that they were in with a good chance of winning each of the last two tests, at the sixty minute mark, and just couldn't finish the job. It was pretty similar to the New Zealand game two years ago in the fact that all Ireland did was kick once they had the big lead, never looking for overlaps. Again last weekend Ireland showed some pretty poor ball handling execution. So yes, they did make history in the first test but the second and third test were big opportunities missed. In terms of selection calls some were marginal (e.g. Jordi Murphy VS Rhys Ruddock) and some were very subjective. For me, only picking one or two Connacht players in the match day 15 and not picking Stuart McCloskey was inexcusable. It would be the equivalent of Springboks only picking one Lions player ,say Lionel Mapoe, despite FaF and Combrink deserving selection. This also kind of renders the club game pointless, in my opinion. I mean Stuart McCloskey has been in the form of his life, this season, and weighs in at 110 kg, he's perfect for playing the Springboks or any other nation. Instead Schmidt picked a guy that has been on the bench for him for this season, Stuart Olding. There should be no subjectivity surrounding these selections as one guy plays on the bench for another guy week in week out.
superba
Guest
Stout meaning what ? Bad or big ??
Harry Jones
Expert
Thanks for the article. Irish U20 has a few good ones, too. The 2016 Irish tourists to SA were the most successful in IRFU history. So it's probably agonising to be nipped at the post, and no doubt it's easy to go back over each personnel decision and even substitution and think "what could have been?" The bench you named is stout! Cronin, McGrath, Furlong, Roux, Ruddock, Conor Murray, Paddy, and Henshaw played a lot of good rugby in the three tests. Smart and strong and honest rugby, really. Murray had a few errors that cost IRE, but his delivery from the base is very good. The rest of those had serious work ethic, too.