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Schmidt gets unexpected Six Nations injury boost with early return of Irish forward
By Online Editors
Ireland’s Six Nations title defence has received a major mid-campaign boost with the return to club action on Friday night of Ulster’s Iain Henderson.
Joe Schmidt was forced to start the unheralded Quinn Roux in last Saturday’s round two win over Scotland.
The South African had failed to make the cut in January 16 when Schmidt announced a 38-strong squad for the tournament that included five locks.
However, Champions Cup injuries to Henderson and Tadhg Beirne, along with Devin Toner’s need for ankle surgery following the opening round loss to England, catapulted Roux into the frame for a first ever Six Nations start at the age of 28.
Roux wasn’t found wanting in helping Ireland see off the Scots in a low-frills encounter at Murrayfield, but the potential return of the higher quality Henderson in time for Ireland’s trip to face Italy on February 24 will be seen as a hugely encouraging development for Schmidt.
Henderson, the 2017 British & Irish Lion, had missed the start of the 2019 Six Nations due to a finger injury sustained during Ulster’s narrow win at Leicester which secured his team qualification for the Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2014.
The second row had only just returned from winter thumb surgery when he sustained his latest injury. However, his reputation as a quick healer has again proven to be true with his inclusion by Dan McFarland in the Ulster side to to take on Ospreys at Bridgend in Friday night.
Henderson started three of Ireland’s matches last term en route a rare Grand Slam success and with Toner now sidelined for the remainder of the latest Six Nations, the soon-to-be 27-year-old now had the opportunity to slot back in alongside James Ryan provided he comes through his PRO14 comeback in Wales unscathed.
John Cooney, capped off the bench on recent weeks as sub for Conor Murray, will also start for Ulster at scrum-half.
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Latest Comments
Ireland have every right to back themselves for a win. But the key variable has little to do with recent record etc.
The reality is that Ireland are a settled team with tons of continuity, an established style, and a good depth chart, whereas NZ are fundamentally rebuilding. The questions are all about what Razor is doing and how far along he is in that program.
NZ are very close to really clicking. Against England all of the chatter is about how England could have closed out a win, but failed to do so. This has obscured the observation that NZ were by far the more creative and effective in attack, beyond the 3-1 try differential and disallowed tries. They gave away a lot of unnecessary penalties, and made many simple errors (including knock-ons and loose kicks). Those things are very fixable, and when they do so we are once again going to be staring at a formidable NZ team.
Last week we heard the England fans talking confidently about their chances against NZ, but England did not end up looking like the better team on the field or the scoreboard. The England defense was impressive enough, but still could not stop the tries.
Ireland certainly has a better chance, of course, but NZ is improving fast, and I would not be surprised at a convincing All Black win this week. It may turn on whether NZ can cut out the simple mistakes.
Go to commentsFair to say that NZ have come to respect Ireland, as have all teams. But it's a bit click-baitey to say that the game is the premier show-down for NZ.
SA has beaten NZ four times in a row, including in the RWC final.
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