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Brian O'Driscoll has a World Cup remedy to fix Joe Schmidt's struggling Ireland midfield
Brian O’Driscoll believes it is time for Joe Schmidt to take decisive action with Ireland’s struggling midfield and finally ask Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw to replicate what they have done together at Leinster at the World Cup with Ireland.
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Multiple trophies have been won by the Irish province in recent years with the two young midfielders paired together at a unit by Leo Cullen.
However, injuries and Schmidt’s unyielding preference to choose Bundee Aki as his No12 have meant that the Ringrose/Henshaw double act has only been seen in action once – the 26-21 series-saving win over Australia in Melbourne in June 2018 – since New Zealander Aki became eligible for his adopted country under World Rugby’s three-year residency rule.
Before Aki became available, the Henshaw-Ringrose axis had started on five occasions and helped to deny England the 2017 Grand Slam. However, ever since the Connacht midfielder made a November 2017 debut, Aki has been Schmidt’s starting inside centre in 18 of Ireland’s 22 matches.
Having now watched records tumble at Twickenham last Saturday on the back of Schmidt’s worst result of his 69-match reign, O’Driscoll, who retired in 2014 as Ireland’s most capped player ever, would like to see a major change in strategy ahead of the finals.
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“The partnership for me is – if both players are fit – Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw,” said O’Driscoll to RugbyPass four days after a woeful Ireland conceded eight tries in London and leaked their most points ever in a match against England.
“It’s partly because of their understanding of playing together provincially as well. Bundee has never disappointed for Ireland, save for his game at the weekend against England.
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“He will want to put that right next time he gets a chance. But for me, Robbie and Garry are the starting partnership all things being equal.”
There has been widespread rancour in Ireland in the wake of the harrowing defeat to England, with people feeling the chance of achieving history at the World Cup is now banjaxed.
However, while O’Driscoll refuses to say there has been an over-reaction, he does believe things can quickly turn around again before the tournament in Japan as Ireland have two more warm-up matches to go yet against Wales.
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“No (there hasn’t been an over-reaction) because it was such a disappointing performance and it comes off the back of a very disappointing performance in the final game of the Six Nations.
A disastrous day for Ireland against England at Twickenham is reflected in their low-scoring player ratings https://t.co/XyYpU3Lzzz
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“That said, can it be rectified relatively quickly? Yes, it can, but confidence has clearly taken a bit of a battering and we haven’t properly recovered from the England and Wales game in Six Nations and now we are going to have to do it the hard way.
“But the reality in sport is you have the capability of turning a big deficit around in a short space of time as we have seen with the All Blacks a few weeks ago, as we have seen with a few other teams like England in the World Cup in 2007 where they got absolutely tonked by South Africa and then narrowly lost in the final to them. There is scope for this team to be able to turn it around, but it has to start this Saturday in Cardiff.”
Having played out the last season of his stellar international career with Schmidt at the helm following three seasons playing under him at Leinster, O’Driscoll suggests no one more than the New Zealander will be as wounded by the 57-15 loss at Twickenham.
“He will take it very badly I would think and I’m sure he will look internally and try and question why it has happened the way it has and what he has done wrong as much as what hasn’t happened with his players and why they haven’t been able to implement his game plans,” said O’Driscoll, a Land Rover ambassador.
“He will look internally as well as externally and work even harder this week to try and make sure that the players are fully prepped. There is a big onus for players to get that right now and deliver for him because there is certainly going to be a couple of players who will be nervous in advance of the World Cup squad announcement next week.
“If they have a second poor performance he could definitely cut someone adrift. Because of last week guys who would have thought they were an absolute shoo-in, now all of a sudden there might be a question mark over their head as to whether they are definitely on the plane or not.
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“There will be some guys that will still feel as though he is not going to leave them out but there will definitely be a few guys who will think if they don’t perform well they could be one of the ones that could be cut adrift because he could make a point of doing it.
“Nothing drives your performance better than that (fear) the next time you get to wear the jersey. You feel as though he is going to pick a strong team because you can’t wait another week to ease your way back into it. The best way to go out and right the wrongs in the performance is the next time you wear the jersey, which is this Saturday.”
WATCH: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt and captain Rory Best after their side’s 57-15 loss to England
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Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments