Joe Schmidt’s Squad For The Australia Tour Revealed Something A Lot Of Us Knew Already

Time to go.

Joe Schmidt yesterday named a 32-man strong squad for next month’s tour of Australia. As expected, Schmidt has gone all out and named a full strength squad, with a series victory the number one priority.

With the Rugby World Cup just over a year away, the time for experimenting is over. Sure there will be the odd player here and there called up (like Tadhg Beirne and Ross Byrne for example) but Schmidt is now closer to his squad for Japan now more than ever.

He’s got the perfect mix and youth and experience and has 2-3 players in pretty much every position that he can trust and rely on. No need to change it. Especially after going unbeaten in the November Internationals as well as the Six Nations on the way to a Grand Slam.

But one thing was revealed yesterday that a lot of us pretty much knew already – Joey Carbery or Ross Byrne have go to go. For Leinster and Ireland’s sake. For the first time the pair, along with Johnny Sexton were named in a squad together as Ireland’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice tens.

It’s not good for the national team to have them all playing for the same province, and to be fair – it’s not ideal for Leinster either. Can they survive next season with all three of them away during the international windows?

Carbery looks like the one that will be allowed go, but only if he wants to. He reportedly has offers from Munster and Ulster. It’s in his best interest and Ireland’s to move on ahead of the Rugby World Cup and get a full season under him at ten.

Let Leinster then focus on bringing through another ten to fill the void. Let’s be honest – they’re the best equipped at doing so and have a proven pedigree. In fact there’s already a couple of players in their squad that could probably make the step up.

Either way – something has got to give. It’s unfortunate on Leinster. But take it as a compliment. You’ve got one of the best academies in the world.

Facebook
Twitter
Follow Me
Instagram