Schmidt bats back on accusations directed at Cian Healy and his scrummaging
Joe Schmidt has tipped Cian Healy to prove a big point in Saturday’s World Cup clash against Japan after the hosts accused the Ireland prop of illegal scrummaging.
Japan prop Yusuke Kizu claimed Healy “steps out” and illegally angles in at scrummages – a suggestion that has found no favour with Ireland head coach Schmidt.
The Ireland boss insisted his team does not flout rules at scrum time, pointing to their exemplary disciplinary record at the set-piece.
And Schmidt then went on to predict that Healy will use the criticism to his advantage, with the British and Irish Lions star named in Ireland’s line-up for the Shizuoka encounter.
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Asked for a response to Kizu’s comments, Schmidt said: “It’s hard to step out when you’ve got your right shoulder out and you’re nice and square.
“We’d be probably one of the – if not the – least penalised scrums in international rugby.
“We do our very best to scrum square, we don’t step left.
“Sometimes it’s impossible not to step left if the opposition does it.
“If the axis is moved by the opposition, it’s pretty much impossible not to move your left foot.
“Certainly what was said by Kizu was a big surprise for us, and will probably provide a bit of motivation for Cian on Saturday.”
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Defence coach Andy Farrell and scrum-half Conor Murray both insisted Ireland must be wary of the boost Japan will receive from their home support.
Japan admitted the size of the occasion of hosting the opener against Russia caught them off guard last week, with a colourful opening ceremony preceding a patchy 30-10 victory.
But Farrell – who coached England at their home World Cup in 2015 – insisted Japan will not fall foul of the atmosphere again.
“One hundred per cent they will handle it better this time,” said Farrell.
“It’s always nice to get 80 minutes under your belt, especially kicking off a home World Cup that you’re building towards for four years.
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“The stress that they would have felt going into that game, they are only human and it’s certain that they would have felt that.
“I suppose now they’ve got that under their belt they’d be itching to get back out there, with a longer turnaround than ourselves.
“They want to put their best performance out there, they don’t want to die wondering, they think this is a huge occasion for them.
“And we are probably aware of that mentality and what this game means to them, and we’ve got to act accordingly to that.”
There are just four changes to the @IrishRugby side that bested Scotland for their match with Japan – including the return of one Rob Kearney. https://t.co/Bh0TMv9AxI #RWC2019 #IREvJPN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 26, 2019
Munster star Murray admitted it is important to soak up the big-match atmosphere, but also not stray from any plans.
“It was pretty similar for us with such a big, big build-up to that game last week,” said Murray.
“We’ve had a game like that under our belts, so it will definitely go up another level.
“Both sides need to be ready for the atmosphere, the occasion, and to go up again.
“It’s probably what you get excited about more than nervous.
“We’ve great respect for the Japanese, it’s going to be really tough out there.
“They play at a frantic place if you let them, and it could be a long day if you don’t get on top of things.
“You’ve got to enjoy it, it’s a really special occasion.
“These opportunities don’t come around that often, so you get excited and you get motivation from how big a stage it is.
“So it’s one to cherish but in terms of preparing, it’s a normal Test week.”
– AP
Wallabies fans are incensed after wing Reece Hodge was struck with a three-week ban:
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments