Bernard Jackman Reckons Ireland’s Big Guns Places Are No Longer Guaranteed
Latest posts by Will Matthews (see all)
A host of big name internationals are returning for the Irish province’s this weekend but Bernard Jackman reckons their spots are no longer guaranteed based on Ireland’s recent form.
Ulster have managed to win three from three in the Pro12, while Leinster and Munster have both won two games, all without many of the IRFU-contracted players.
“I thought Leinster showed a huge amount of promise in their game against Edinburgh,” Jackman told RTÉ 2fm’s Game On.
“There are young guys who have put their hand up now and they’re going to make a statement that the internationals aren’t guaranteed the shirt when it comes to the crunch games in Europe in a few weeks’ time.
“But having the likes of Sexton and the other internationals coming back is a huge boost for Leo Cullen.
“If you look at Leinster and Munster, they have won two of their first three games while missing their international players.
“That’s what Joe [Schmidt, Ireland coach] and Leo and Rassie [Erasmus, Munster coach] would have been hoping as well – that they can get results even when they are missing their frontline guys.” [RTE.ie]
Is it time for Joe Schmidt to give some of the young guns a chance?
