Forget the fact that each province is missing at least 10 senior players, there was plenty to be pleased about in terms of another thrilling, punishing season ahead.
Joe Schmidt gets two cracks at the All Blacks this November. This narrative will consume Irish rugby in the coming months. After that, we’ll look to the Lions Tour through the Six Nations prism. Home games against France and England should aid Ireland’s cause. At least the Lions head coach talk will officially stop on Wednesday.
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Schmidt has introduced a plethora of new faces in his three years in charge but he will have been hugely heartened to see two Leinster men – Rob Kearney and Cian Healy – showing signs of early form after some injury woes of late.
Here are five players [below] that showed Schmidt they are primed for a couple of dashes at destiny. We feel the return of two Leinster stars will have pleased the Kiwi most.
Rob Kearney (Leinster)
The man himself says consistency of appearances usually results in peak performance. Endured five separate hamstring strains last season and missed the summer tour of South Africa to get it sorted.
Has featured in pre-season outings and showed he had lost none of that counter-attacking spark in an unexpectedly tight game against Treviso. “I’ve had a great pre-season, I’ve worked hard and, touch wood, I’ve got my body back in a great place,” he said.
He also touched wood. No point jinxing it.
Finlay Bealham (Connacht)
How to pick a positive from a 41-5 trouncing? There was one and it was the performance of Connacht tight-head Finlay Bealham.
Mike Ross may yet hang onto the Ireland No.3 jersey for the big tests ahead but Bealham is pushing hard. Showed his attacking instincts and smart passing skills against Glasgow Warriors, caused trouble on the deck and held his own in the scrum.
Tommy O’Donnell (Munster)
Could have done with him in South Africa but marriage called. Looks to be benefitting already from the arrival of defence coach Jacques Nienbauer. Munster looked tighter in defence against Scarlets and O’Donnell was allowed to go hunting.
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His team had identified the Scarlets dangermen and O’Donnell was the guy to shut them down. Ferocious around the fringes.
Stuart Olding (Ulster)
Has an outside chance of starting in midfield for Ireland this November and will do his chances no harm. Ulster took a while to get going, against Dragons, but eventually did enough to get the bonus point win.
Olding looked very good alongside Stuart McCloskey in midfield, was at the hub of some of Ulster’s attacks and made his fair share of tackles and clean-outs. Keep that up in the Champions Cup and he stands every chance of going up against the likes of Malakai Fekitoa and Chiefs’ 21-year-old sensation Anton Lienert-Brown.
Cian Healy (Leinster)
If the Leinster loose-head can stay fit while remaining as explosive as the player we know and love, it could be the biggest bonus of all. Jack McGrath has developed into a world-class loosie but how good would it be to use the Leinster duo as dual weapons?
“He did some good things,” said Leinster coach Leo Cullen after the Treviso game. “Was blowing petty hard. Played 40 minutes last week and 46, 47 tonight… It is pleasing to see him back out there.”
Cullen was not the only one.
The young guns
This weekend also featured excellent outings from the likes of Jack O’Donoghue, Ronan O’Mahony (both Munster), Rob Lyttle, Ross Kane (both Ulster), and the Leinster trio of Josh van der Flier, Joey Carbery and Luke McGrath.
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In reality, from the seven names above, only van der Flier has a realistic chance of featuring against the All Blacks.
Still, Schmidt is surely aware that you don’t pass up any opportunities or players that will help you make history.
Huge All-Ireland final GAA Hour features an interview with Kilkenny manager Brian Cody. Subscribe here on iTunes.
