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Schmidt gets unexpected Six Nations injury boost with early return of Irish forward
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.
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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.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT ? | versus Opsreys
? Milestone for @Stuart_Mc12
? @HendersonIain returns
? @JCooney09 & @Jordimurphy available
3?? Academy players in starting XV pic.twitter.com/2l5CKkAXHU— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) February 14, 2019
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.
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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.
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
40 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.
10 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 commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
40 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
40 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
40 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
40 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
40 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
40 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments