The Positives And Negatives To Take From Joe Schmidt’s Ireland Selection For Opening SA Game

Joe Schmidt today revealed his side to take on South Africa in their opening test match.

Once again Schmidt has raised a few eyebrows with his selection, with some good decisions and some questionable decisions.

The Positives.

1. Finally we get an opportunity to see Jared Payne play at fullback for Ireland. We’ve asked to see this for a long time, finally our prayers have been answered.
2. Paddy Jackson finally gets his chance at 10 in the wake of Johnny Sexton’s injury. Let’s hope he can prove Joe wrong in leaving him out of his Six Nation’s selections.
3. Iain Henderson is back.
4. CJ Stander.
5. Craig Gilroy is named on the bench.
6. CJ Stander.

The Negatives

1. No room for Connacht duo of Matt Healy and Tiernan O’Halloran
2. Jordi Murphy.
3. No Stuart McCloskey (We know he wasn’t named in the squad but he damn sure should have been).
4. That Vodafone logo.

All in all the positives outweigh the negatives. Now bring on the Springboks

IRELAND team to play South Africa – Saturday 11^th June, 2016
15. Jared Payne (Ulster)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
12. Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

1. Jack McGrath (St Marys/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (captain)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6. CJ Stander (Munster)
7. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Marys/Leinster)
17. Finlay Bealham (Corintians/Connacht)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
19. Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)
20. Rhys Ruddock (St Marys/Leinster)
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster)
23. Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)