OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS AGAIN

More fringe players get chance to stake claim

JOE Schmidt resembled a boxoffice promoter the other day, talking up Scotland as if they were a European version of the All Blacks coming to Dublin. It was hard to warm to the Ireland coach’s patter. Admittedly, he has to be on the right track in suggesting the Scots will be tougher opponents than Wales — no team can surely play worse than the sluggish, possession-coughing Welsh did in the opening half hour last weekend.

But much of everything else he had to say about today’s visitors had you reaching for a pinch of salt.

Schmidt was never going to talk down a team coached by one of his best friends, even doing the opposite in claiming it was a ‘win’ for the visitors to extend his pal Vern Cotter’s contract to 2017 even though the Scots finished bottom in the Six Nations.

As for them having a line-up with eight starters drawn from PRO12 champions Glasgow, this alleged buoyancy doesn’t quite stack up either as we have for years been told how provincial rugby isn’t of the same standard as Test level. Why change that viewpoint now?

Truth be told, it was all a little too convenient for Schmidt to talk at length about the Scots: it meant he could deflect attention away from the real business of Ireland taking a second positive step forward in an effort to be as best-prepared as possible for the World Cup.

For a coach who likes to repeatedly select his favourites en bloc, he has done well to cast his net wide and it will be no mean feat to have given 29 players a start in his team’s opening two warm-up games.

Given the importance of not peaking too soon with the World Cup still five weeks away — a full eight weeks to the Pool D-defining showdown with France — it’s common sense to keep first-choice quintet Rob Kearney, Robbie Henshaw, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony on ice and leave two others, Rory Best last week and Paul O’Connell today, content with bench roles.

The softly, softly option is prudent, lessening chances of suffering a really big injury blow and effectively allowing these cornerstones have a nine-week preseason before Wales wheeze into Dublin on August 29 to remind us they can indeed hold onto the ball.

Despite this husbandry, though, Ireland’s over-dependency on everpresent Mike Ross is again worryingly evident as there is no sign yet of Marty Moore getting himself fully up to speed again; Schmidt stating he was fit but oddly adding he didn’t fit in with the team’s plans this week. Work that one out.

Backed up last week by Michael Bent, an import lost to the Test wilderness for 33 months after debuting in November 2012, Ross is this evening shadowed by another rookie import, Nathan White, in line to win a first Test cap a month before his 34th birthday. Hardly an inspired Plan B.

Set-piece laid the foundation for dismantling Wales seven days ago; the Ross-locked scrum showcasing its reliability to usher Darren Cave in for his score and the lineout pris- tine on Irish ball as well as snagging some opposition throws.

With more of that stability expected today, despite Ross accompanying seven different starters in a pack that includes debut-making Jack Conan who has a big step-up to make, there will be focus on how Ian Madigan manages to orchestrate the attack away from the collisions.

Paddy Jackson, his rival in the back-up slot to Sexton, confidently showed he can run the division, as numerous players outside him were able to shine in Wales.

Madigan must now do the same, especially if veteran Gordon D’Arcy is to grab a World Cup selection lifeline. Simon Zebo and Luke Fitzgerald are also particularly reliant on Madigan to enhance their claims, so the out-half has much riding on what he can deliver.

Discipline will also be acutely monitored. Ireland’s initial sharpness a week ago meant the presence of Glen Jackson, referee when they return to Cardiff for their September 19 World Cup start, wasn’t an issue when the Millennium warm-up was a game to be won.

They managed the dynamics impressively, leading 35-7 early in the second half. However, the trouble that then arose can’t become a habit as key games at the finals are expected to be decided in the final moments.

Schmidt had a reprimand this week for Chris Henry after he picked up the team’s third yellow card in the coach’s 19-Test reign, and you can be sure there was a collective stern word to highlight how coming out the wrong side of the overall penalty count — another rare enough occurrence — and losing the final quarter of a match 0-14 just can’t be tolerated.

Time f or Ireland to be even sharper at the second time of asking.

The softly, softly option is prudent