JOE SCHMIDT HAS this afternoon named his first team of the 2019 Six Nations, as Ireland’s Grand Slam defence gets underway in a massive opening-weekend game against England.
The head coach’s selection for the Aviva Stadium showdown is here, while below we take a look at the big talking points from today’s team announcement.
Henshaw’s positional switch
Henshaw in training at the Aviva today. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
By the time Schmidt officially named his starting XV at this afternoon’s press conference at the Aviva Stadium, it came as no surprise to hear the Kiwi read Robbie Henshaw’s name out at fullback.
But the decision to start Henshaw in the 15 jersey for the first time at this level since his Ireland debut against USA back in 2013 is a big, if not calculated, risk from Schmidt.
With Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki and Henshaw all now fit and available for the first time in over a year, Schmidt has decided to select all three rather than choose between them for the visit of Eddie Jones’ side.
Henshaw, having started his career at fullback with Connacht, has not started in the position since his move to Leinster, although he played 34 minutes against Benetton in the Pro14 back in October when Rob Kearney got injured.
While the 25-year-old has previously spoken about it being his preferred position, it is still a big ask of Henshaw to deputise in the backfield on Saturday evening.
Significantly, it also means Schmidt has been able to retain the Ringrose-Aki midfield partnership.
Speaking last year, Henshaw said: “I think he [Schmidt] knows that I have played plenty of rugby there. It’s where he can get the best out of me is where he will play me. That’s the centre and that’s where I enjoy at the moment.
“Open land with plenty of space. It’s always nice to have that. I suppose it took me back to the early days of my career. It was enjoyable.”
It’s unclear whether this is part of a longer-term plan for Henshaw, or whether Kearney’s lack of game time during a stop-start season forced Schmidt’s hand.
The 32-year-old has only played three games since the All Blacks win and his comeback in Leinster’s defeat of Scarlets last week saw him miss three tackle in a rusty display.
JVDF gets the nod
Van der Flier retains his place at seven. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
Allowing for the already confirmed injuries to Iain Henderson and Tadhg Beirne, which somewhat simplified Schmidt’s second row selection, the other key call for the Kiwi this week was in the back row.
Although Seán O’Brien was back in the mix after his 55 minute-display against Wasps a couple of weekends ago, Schmidt has retained Josh van der Flier at openside, while Jordi Murphy was also in contention following an impressive run of form for Ulster.
Schmidt has made just two alterations from that All Blacks win — Henshaw and Conor Murray in for Kearney and Kieran Marmion respectively — and it speaks volumes of van der Flier’s performance that day that he has again been handed the seven jersey.
The Leinster flanker’s Six Nations was cruelly cut short in Paris last year but his diligence and application in getting back for Leinster was rewarded with a return against the All Blacks, where he excelled in the back row alongside CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony.
There is also a welcome return for Murray as he’s reunited with Johnny Sexton in the half-backs, with the Munster scrum-half set for his first Ireland appearance since last summer’s tour of Australia. He missed the November series with a neck injury.
Granted Marmion did an excellent job in deputising for Murray in the nine jersey, but the Limerick native’s presence in the Ireland team is a major fillip ahead of the Grand Slam defence.