There is a complex masterplan, we're just not privy to it. Here's what we do know. Keith Earls, not Luke Fitzgerald, is being looked at for outside centre while Munster outhalf Ian Keatley is omitted entirely form the Wolfhounds squad to face a powerful looking England Saxons in Cork.
"Ian Keatley was definitely fit for selection," said Wolfhounds coach Dan McFarland. "Ian has been playing extremely well at fly half over the last while. Ian Madigan obviously hasn't played as much at fly half. This is a good opportunity to play him there."
Noel Reid is the outhalf cover.
A question on Jared Payne’s availability was passed over to the communications department. The Ulster centre/fullback “has trained but wasn’t considered for selection.”
So Payne is fit?
“He is fit.”
Same answer for Tommy O’Donnell. So, on that premise, all three - Keatley, Payne and O’Donnell - are in line to make the 23 man squad to play Italy in Rome on February 7th.
It's also clear this match is being used as a primer for several players ahead of that opening Six Nations fixture at the Stadio Olimpico. Namely Mike Ross starting at tighthead, Madigan, Jack McGrath and Kieran Marmion, despite Schmidt being "quietly confident"
that Conor Murray will recover.
Unfortunately the overall thinking on this selection is unclear as Schmidt did media yesterday (Wednesday). McFarland, the highly regarded Connacht forwards coach, is clearly not in a position to provide big picture clarity.
It means conjecture reigns again.
Henderson, predominantly a blindside flanker for Ulster and Ireland to this point, finally gets a run at lock which could well be the 22 year old’s long term position. He looks a certainly to make the Ireland bench next week. Jordi Murphy has also been held off, which indicates he or O’Donnell will start at openside, with Sean O’Brien coming into the equation against France on February 14th (incidentally his 28th birthday).
Unless, of course, O'Brien makes an immediate impact after shoulder surgery. Which is possible.
There is another glut of players scrapping for the number 23 jersey - Fergus McFadden, Felix Jones, Earls and Fitzgerald.
Gordon D'Arcy, like Ross, is clearly in need of game time having been dropped by Leinster coach Matt O'Connor.
“Rossy is in a good spot,” said Richardt Strauss, “he got a good bit of work done with Leinster. At his age [35]it is probably not the worst thing to have a couple of weeks off.”
Nathan White provides cover.
Earls, who has yet to play a test match in the Schmidt era, is looking forward to the midfield contest with England’s Rugby League convert Sam Burgess.
“Big fan of Sam,” said Earls. “I’ve been watching him in Rugby League in Australia. He’s a documentary out, ‘Slammin’ Sam,’ was good as well. He’s a phenomenal athlete and for a fella who is only 26 he’s a lot done.”
He certainly does. Before joining Peter Stringer at Bath late last year Burgess led Russell Crowe’s South Sydney Rabbitohs to victory in the NRL Grand Final - winning man of the match despite fracturing his cheekbone in the opening minute.
Burgess also famously decimated Sonny Bill Williams, the most famous and successful convert from League to inside centre, on the All Black’s brief return to the NRL in 2013.
Finally, Dave Foley (wrist) is out for three months so Eoin McKeon has been added to camp (47 players now) and the Wolfhounds bench but Robbie Diack will provide lock cover. Number Eight Jack Conan is the only uncapped player in the starting XV.
Ireland Wolfhounds: F Jones (capt); F McFadden, K Earls, G D’Arcy, L Fitzgerald; I Madigan, K Marmion; J McGrath, R Strauss, M Ross; I Henderson, M McCarthy; D Ryan, S O’Brien, J Conan. Replacements: R Herring, M Bent, N White, R Diack, E McKeon, I Boss, N Reid, C Gilroy.
England Saxons: C Pennell; C Ashton, E Daly, S Burgess, M Yarde; H Slade, L Dickson (capt); M Mullan, R Webber, H Thomas; M Garvey, J Gaskell; D Ewers, M Kvesic, T Waldrom. Replacements: L Cowan Dickie, A Waller, J Cooper-Woolley, M Itoje, C Fearns, J Simpson, O Devoto, C Wade.
