Joe Schmidt has to make pieces fit with Johnny Sexton out

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt is an equal opportunities employer, so Ian Madigan and Paddy Jackson shared the outhalf duties in training sessions during the week in the absence of Jonathan Sexton, ruled out of the three-Test tour to South Africa following shoulder surgery.

Madigan (27), who was called into the squad following his team-mate's misfortune, understudied Sexton during the Rugby World Cup and Six Nations Championship, but, having signed for Bordeaux Bègles, it was the in-form Jackson (24) who was originally selected in the original Irish touring party.

The Ulster outhalf won the last of his 13 caps when coming on as a replacement against Romania in the World Cup. Schmidt said he would decide early next week which player would start the first Test against the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday week.

“Paddy and Ian have actually shared 50/50 the time in training; we haven’t made any decisions at all. The big advantage for Paddy is his form and regular game time at the end of the season as opposed to Ian who hasn’t had that opportunity but he’s trained incredibly well in these two training [sessions] that we’ve done,” Schmidt said.

Real opportunity

“Those are the decisions that we’ll make at the latest by Thursday. We’ll try to give the 10 particularly an indication by Tuesday so that they get enough time in the saddle to really lead guys around.

“If it is Jacko it’s a real opportunity for him fill those big boots, that big jersey, but also be himself. I’m not going to ask Paddy Jackson to be anyone other than the player he’s comfortable being because that’s a good player, that’s a player that can be effective at Test level and he’s excited about that opportunity if it comes about.”

The loss of Schmidt’s on-field lieutenant in Sexton transcends physical qualities. He’s a big personality and a senior figure in the leadership cadre but Schmidt expects his successor on tour to discharge the role capably.

“It’s a needs must. One of the things you find when you do lose players who are very dominant in the group, other alpha males emerge and they help drive the group,” he said.

“I’ve no doubt that Paddy and Ian can both play that role because it is a pivotal position; it’s a position where you’ve got to have to some degree of control of the team during the training, during the match so that the players know where they’re going and I’ve no doubt that both of those players can do it well.

“The way he [Jackson] conducts himself around Ulster is learning from the way Johnny [Sexton] conducts himself in this environment. He knows the plays, he runs the plays and has confidence in that. It’s a chance for him to come in and put his own slant on it.”

Up to speed

Schmidt offered an explanation of his decision not to include Jackson for the Six Nations.

“At the time Johnny played really well and we needed the multi-cover off the bench, particularly because we tended to lose players during those games,” he said.

“At the same time, Paddy was in and out of camp during that time so he was certainly up to speed in terms of what we were doing. That was probably a real upsurge in his form. He was running a team that he was the experienced player in.

“The old guys like Rory [Best] weren’t there. He really took the team by the scruff of the neck and I think he grew during that period. There is always a silver lining and Paddy made the most of that. And that showed in his end-of-season form.”

The Irish coach indicated that Robbie Henshaw could switch to fullback in place of Rob Kearney as he values Jared Payne's intelligent defence "on the edge" (a reference to him defending in the 13 channel), while also acknowledging that Stuart Olding could have a starting role at inside centre.

He also highlighted the form of Tiernan O'Halloran and Luke Marshall.

“Some of those decisions we will make during training, seeing who is most comfortable in either position. And then there is Tiernan who really spiked at the end of the season. His confidence is high, he is in good form and he comes into the equation as well,” Schmidt said.

The jigsaw has new pieces; now it’s about making them fit.