Connacht youngster Robbie Henshaw looks set to get the nod at 13 for Ireland in the opening game of the November series against South Africa next weekend.
Henshaw trained at 13 in Friday’s open session at the Aviva Stadium with veteran Gordon D’Arcy on his inside shoulder. This seems the most likely combination in midfield combining the youth and skill of Henshaw with the reassuring experienced head of Gordon D’Arcy.
Rob Kearney picked up a mild injury recently and trained today for the first time in a week meaning that Ulster’s adopted Kiwi Jared Payne filled in at full-back in the Ireland camp this week. This indicates that if Kearney isn’t fit for the Springbok challenge Henshaw will line up at 13 and Payne will take up the 15 shirt.
However, when quizzed on whether or not the Connacht man is ready to be thrown in at the deep end against the Springboks, Irish coach Joe Schmidt was coy on the subject saying, “I guess in nine day’s time we will know.”
“There would be better ways for Robbie to be prepared, probably a better introduction, a more gradual introduction to come against (Jan) Serfontaine and Jean de Villiers most likely.
“That is a massive ask. We know a bit about Jean de Villiers with his time spent in Munster and we know him a little bit. Serfontain is a player who has improved massively in the last 18 months. He is a very complete player. He is a very strong player, but a very good reader of the game as well now.
“There is a good challenge for [Henshaw] there. Whether he is ready for the challenge, as I’ve said, we will find out.”
