Schmidt set to make wholesale changes – with Australia on the mind

Buoyed by the win over South Africa, Joe Schmidt is set to make wholesale changes to his starting XV for Sunday's second leg of the Guinness Series against Georgia.

Although the coach had mentioned keeping a degree of continuity in the Irish selection in the immediate aftermath, Schmidt and co now appear more inclined to use this Series as a mini dry run for their World Cup pool programme, all the more so with the six-day turnaround before facing Australia.

Ireland begin their World Cup campaign at home to Canada before facing Romania and finish against Italy and France, perhaps affording the Irish management to utilise the bulk of their squad in their opening two matches and thus resting many front-liners against Romania.

In any event, key figures such as Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton and Rob Kearney are expected to be excused duty, from the starting line-up at any rate, as will others who had a big workload last week such as Jack McGrath, Seán Cronin and Rhys Ruddock.

Furthermore, as Mike Ross is likely to be given another game from the start against the forceful Georgian scrum, all bar Rodney Ah You of the bench are liable to be promoted to the starting line-up.

Felix Jones is in line to start at full-back, with Craig Gilroy also expected to be recalled, with Simon Zebo possibly set to be one of the few to retain his place.

While Schmidt might have been of a mind to give Robbie Henshaw another run out in the less familiar role of inside centre, the probability that Jared Payne will not be fit to face Australia due to his foot injury means Henshaw will in all probability revert to outside centre next week.

Inside centre

Therefore, there wouldn’t be much point in playing him again at inside centre. As Schmidt would also not be of a mind to play a relatively inexperienced pairing of, say, Stuart Olding and Henshaw against the Wallabies, the latter’s partner is more likely to be Gordon D’Arcy. In that case, it would make sense to start D’Arcy against Georgia at inside centre, with Darren Cave’s call-up this week perhaps suggesting he will be his partner.

Although there must be a temptation to have a look at Ian Keatley, given they are first- choice back-up at scrum-half and out-half, Eoin Reddan and Ian Madigan are the likely half- back pairing. They are also both in fine form.

Different view

Up front, David Kilcoyne and Richardt Strauss appear probable starters alongside the aforementioned Ross, for whom last Saturday was his first game in a month. Had Marty Moore or Nathan White not been sidelined, Schmidt and co might have taken a different view. That said, the management would surely like to remove Ross from the fray on Sunday as early as possible, in which case the timing of his departure will be a barometer of how well the day is going for Ireland.

There seems likely to be a first test for Dave Foley, whether from the start or off the bench, as Devin Toner also put in a big stint last week, although is also coming into form. Mike McCarthy looks a very probable starter.

Strong hint

The addition of Robin Copeland to the squad at the outset of the week constituted a strong hint that the management were considering resting the tireless Jamie Heaslip, especially as Ruddock had not been scheduled to start last Saturday until Chris Henry fell ill on the morning of the match.

As with Madigan, Tommy O’Donnell is presumably in line for his first Test start at home bearing in mind he was called in as a late addition to the replacement bench last week and is therefore next in the pecking order, and if O’Mahony is rested, the only viable alternatives at blindside are Ruddock or Robbie Diack. But with Ruddock possibly now in line to start against Australia as well, the preference may be for Diack.

POSSIBLE IRELAND XV: F Jones; C Gilroy, D Cave, G D'Arcy, S Zebo; I Madigan, E Reddan; D Kilcoyne, R Strauss, M Ross, D Foley, M McCarthy, R Diack, T O'Donnell, R Copeland.