Australia will be facing an Ireland team missing their talismanic captain Rory Best after the hooker was ruled out for the forthcoming three-test series with a hamstring injury.
Best, who led Ireland to a Six Nations grand slam this year, will be replaced by Munster hooker Niall Scannell in an otherwise near full-strength touring squad, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) confirmed on Thursday.
Scannell, who has won seven caps for his country, will compete with the similarly internationally inexperienced Rob Herring of Ulster for the number two jersey, while Johnny Sexton and Peter O’Mahoney will share captaincy duties.
Ireland confirmed Best’s injury on twitter, before boss Schmidt explained how his squad may handle the 35-year-old’s absence against the Wallabies.
“Rory’s not going to tour,” said Schmidt.
“He had a hamstring issue that kept him out of the game against Ospreys and we felt he was really going in the right direction and he would be ready for game one, definitely for game two. But he’s just not quite where we need him to be.
“Because a number of these things have just become apparent, we’ve two vice captains in Peter O’Mahony and Johnny Sexton and a strong leadership group.
“It will depend a bit on selection and what we feel we need at any given time. It could be that Pete and Johnny take the team on and share the load.”
Now that Best has failed to recover in time, it leaves Leinster’s Sean Cronin heading the queue to to start the first Test, in Brisbane on June 9.
The Irish are hoping for their first win in Australia since 1979.
Rob Herring is the other hooker in Ireland’s touring party, with Schmidt now to decide who will skipper the team.
Schmidt’s initial installation of Best as captain for the summer tour had pushed the Ulster star one step closer towards skippering Ireland at the 2019 World Cup.
Bakkies
Guest
Niall Scannell is a good set piece hooker. He made his Six Nations debut last year and nailed his set pieces. There are others coming through like James Tracey, Adam McBurney and Delahunt. Best is only on a short contract till the end of the RWC. If Ulster knew how to develop young forwards McBurney should be ahead of Herring as back up hooker. He played in the same under 20s side as Porter, Ryan and Stockdale.
Derm
Roar Guru
Agreed Henry. Don’t think many in Ireland see Cronin as a test starter. Much better as the bench man. Interesting to see if Schmidt goes with him as his No 2 or considers Herring instead. Neither will be as good in the tight as Best. Or as strong in tackle/maul area. Maybe Scannell can shrug off the injury malaise and hit his straps.
HenryHoneyBalls
Guest
Im an Ireland and Leinster fan. From my point of view Best is a big loss. He is a fantastic captain and very under rated outside of Ireland. His work around the breakdown is excellent and he really drives the team forward. He is also decent in the loose and not as bad as is claimed at the lineout. He is afterall probably one of if not the most successful Ireland captains of all time and the only captain to win v New Zeland or v SA in SA or to achieve a grand slam in Twickenham etc. etc. That said Cronin is very experienced and much better in the loose but he is 32 himself. With Leavy in the team I don't think the breakdown will suffer too much and Sexton or POM will probably captain in his place. James Ryan being an outside bet but will be captain in the next few years. Best is Ireland's oldest player but I do think he will be needed as captain at the RWC.
brian
Guest
It is actually a blessing in that it will give Best a summer off playing to get ready for RWC. And Ireland lose little for the tour, even the back-up for the back-up in Scannell is no mug
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
It could be a blessing in disguise for the Irish. Maybe, in the same way, a lot of the Poms are pretty happy that Dylan Hartley will not be on the plane to the Republic. And Ireland doesn't lack leaders in the squad with experienced campaigners like O'Mahoney, Sexton, and Murray in the mix.
Highlander
Guest
Reckon you might be right Viking This might be a really bad time to let Cronin have the starters shirt. Also Ireland will have a captain that doesn’t have to leave after 55. Transition time?
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Not really Fionn. Best's replacement is Sean Cronin and he has 61 Test caps to his name. Many in Ireland argues that Cronin is better than Best and he has only held his starting place due to him being captain. Cronin being a Leinster man meaning the Irish front row will be all Leinster now. Their set piece is very unlikely to lose any strength.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Maybe that's why they being conservative with his injury management. A lot of eyes on next year.
John R
Roar Guru
He's a menace on the ground for sure. I can't say I'm worded up enough on Irish rugby to know too much about their next in line their either hey. I'd assume they've got some decent enough replacements though.
Fionn
Guest
Easier for all the Wallaby forwards as he is one of Ireland's best jackals at the breakdown. I suspect this may be good for Ireland's WC prep though. Rory is of that age that I'm not sure Schmidt can rely on him in 2019.
John R
Roar Guru
Those young lads vying for a gold #2 jersey will be breathing a bit of a sigh of a relief at this. A real shame for Rory though
Fionn
Guest
Two sides with very inexperienced hookers. Will be interesting to see how the set pieces function.