Devin Toner
offers a rueful smile when quizzed about how Scotland amassed their points, six from two penalties, at the Aviva Stadium last Sunday. It’s a loaded question delivered as a light hearted aside at the end of a 10 minute chat.
Well versed with Joe Schmidt’s forensic post match video analysis dating back to his time as Leinster coach, Toner knew that no wriggle room would be afforded in the review, all be they minor aberrations in the context of the match in what was otherwise a super performance from the 27-year-old secondrow.
He explains: “The first one I got caught underneath him [the Scottish player]. Referees are obviously trying to be harsh on rolling away but he [South African official Craig Joubert] said: ‘it’s up to you; it’s your fault if you are caught under him.’ And it was my fault, I shouldn’t have been caught there.
“The second one, I thought I was right through the middle [of the maul] but someone pulled out and I looked like I was swimming up the side so there was not a lot I could do about it.” And how did the case for the defence rest under cross examination from the coach?
Toner smiles: “He originally thought I was going through the middle but then he had a look at it again . . . and it looks like I’m coming in the side.”
Mature performance
The Leinster lock produced a mature, hard working performance, overseeing the running of the Ireland lineout, all the more laudable given the distraction of Paul O'Connell's withdrawal that morning.
"Plum [forwards' coach, John Plumtree called me and said, 'Paul's out and you're calling the lineout.' I was like 'what? Okay.' It puts a lot more pressure on you because you are calling the lineouts and everything is on you.
“I have done it before, so many times for Leinster and also for Ireland. I kind of relished it a bit, being able to control it. It stood to us that we had a lot of strength in depth to come in. Dan [Tuohy] came in and played a class game.”
Toner explains that he didn’t chat to a bedridden O’Connell on the morning of the game as there was too much to be done and also that they had prepared assiduously during the week. “We had stuff to get through. During the week we get the subs in and look at different permutations of what will happen and what could happen. I was happy enough to be honest.
“Me and Dan played Ireland under-21 together, Ireland A together, so we have played together a lot. I get on very well with Dan. We trained together for the last two weeks so it was no hassle [when he came in for O’Connell].”
Aggressive
Wales have replaced lofty Luke Charteris with the more mobile and athletic qualities of Andrew Coombes in the secondrow. Toner notes that the latter is aggressive and likes to get his hands on the ball and what Wales lose in inches in terms of the lineout, they'll get back in other areas.
Toner also name-checks the other Welsh secondrow, Alun-Wyn Jones, stating that: “we [Leinster] played against him a fair bit. He’s quite a menace. He’s good in mauls, likes to disrupt them and make a nuisance of himself. Our focus will be to get in early and try to get rid of him, out of ruck and maul.
“Plum has been knocking it home that we want to become not just a good pack but a great pack. We proved at the weekend that we can maul and our scrum was excellent. Our focus going into very game as a pack is to get the upper hand. If they get front foot ball off the set piece it is not ideal given the size of the backs. We are going to do our best to negate it.”
Fractured preparation
Toner refuses to overplay the fractured preparation of a six day turnaround as befits a man who is very rarely injured. It's a nuisance but nothing more debilitating.
“I am quite lucky, touch wood. It’s [six day lead-in] not ideal but Joe takes care of us a lot. We had a session on Tuesday, where we were a little sore but once you get out and start running you loosen up. We had a day off yesterday. The S&C staff and Joe really look after us. I don’t think it is an issue.
“The mood is quite positive. We only looked back to go forward ; we didn’t really look at the Scotland game a lot. Our main focus was Wales. We had a short little meeting about Scotland but then everyone was focusing on the weekend coming.”
