MATT O’CONNOR HAS insisted that Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has no say in whether or not Ian Madigan is selected at out-half for the province.
With Johnny Sexton recovering from the effects of concussion, Madigan is favourite to wear 10 for Ireland in the Six Nations opener against Italy on 7 February, despite his lack of extended game time in that shirt for Leinster.
However, the 25-year-old’s two most recent starts for O’Connor’s side [against Munster and Ulster] both came at out-half. Having started more often at inside centre prior to that, there was some suggestion that Schmidt’s influence was being felt.
Leinster head coach O’Connor has backed those words up again this afternoon.
No, he [Schmidt] doesn’t have any say in our environment,” explained O’Connor at Leinster’s UCD base. “From that end, because of circumstance Mads got a couple of games at 10 because we needed him to play there.
“He hadn’t played there [before that] because of circumstance and because of the injuries we’ve had in midfield; he didn’t get the opportunities that we would have liked earlier in the season. We just need to cover all bases for our environment and there was a little bit of a spin-on to Ireland in giving Ian the opportunity to push his claims over Christmas.
“That was a win-win.”
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The unfairly maligned Jimmy Gopperth was back at out-half for Leinster in last weekend’s win over the Cardiff Blues, continuing his run of ever-improving form.
Madigan scored a cheeky try against Ulster in the RDS. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
O’Connor was giving nothing away with regards to who will wear 10 for Leinster against Castres on Saturday, but admitted he was impressed by what he saw from the Kiwi native in Cardiff.
“Yeah, I thought Jimmy was very good at the weekend,” said O’Connor. “I thought he controlled things very well for us. We were patient with the [synthetic] surface; the game dynamics are unique on that surface.
“I thought Jimmy in particular, but also Luke McGrath and the whole team, played those conditions well and we kept our composure to get maximum points out of that.”
It’s been a see-saw selection contest between Madigan and Gopperth for the out-half shirt at Leinster over the last two seasons, although the latter has generally been preferred for the biggest fixtures.
Captain Jamie Heaslip says he’s a fan of both players, with the duo being equally as demanding of their forwards.
They both have their unique styles, I suppose,” said Heaslip. “Mads can probably be a bit more bullish… I have to watch my words because the two of them will probably slag me!
“Mads can be a bit more bullish and Jimmy can be quite precise. At the end of the line, both of them demand quite a lot from their back unit, but definitely from their forwards. They demand quite a lot, but they’re also two players who can ad lib it with the best of them and just play football.
“They’re both equally cranky but in very different ways.”
Leinster decided not to appeal McGrath's three-week ban. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Meanwhile, O’Connor shed more light on the reasoning behind Leinster’s decision not to appeal Jack McGrath’s three-week suspension for stamping, a ban that means the loosehead prop will miss both upcoming Champions Cup ties against Castres and Wasps.
“The timing of it is unfortunate,” said Connor. “Jack made a mistake, he got banned for it, he’s learned the lesson from it. We sought the neccesary opinions and the thinking was that you’re unlikely to change it. So we’ve moved on.
“That wasn’t necessarily the thought process [that an appeal might lead to an even longer ban].
It was about making sure that we ticked all the boxes in terms of looking at it and if there was an in for us, legally, to change that ruling, we would have. But he’ll cop it on the chin and he’ll be better for it.”
Again, O’Connor underlined the fact that national team management had no say in Leinster’s decision. Any extension of the suspension for McGrath would have risked the prop’s early involvement in the Six Nations, but O’Connor stressed that the Ireland camp had had no say.
How can a 10 who can’t expose a team out wide when playing v 13 men with a dominant pack Infront of him get so much praise. Leinster were not going to win that game until the sending off.
He missed kick after kick and all the tries were either one pass bashes or in our backs try a good break from Jimmy and a great line from Reid. In fairness he took his one well.
My point is he cannot create or expose space even v 14 or twice this year v 13 men.
Even if he isn’t picked at 10 for Leinster he is still the obvious choice after Sexton. We have two class out halves, one in France and the other in Leinster. Let’s face facts.
Joe Schmidt and the IRFU might not tell the coach who to pick, but I’m sure the players choice is affected by their international chances. Payne probably let the coach know he’d like to play 13 and Henshaw likely moved from 15 to 13 too because BOD is much older than Kearney. MOC is gonna choose what he’s gonna choose, but I’m sure his players telling him they want to play in ‘x’ position has an impact
The Kidney decision at the time was just like the current MOC situation with the coach being unswayed by evidence because he simply doesn’t like Madigan.
In 2013 Madigan was playing far better than Jackson.
That’s going to be an unpopular statement, but there’s some sense in it. PJ has had some trouble with a back injury, and suffered an almost inevitable loss of form after being parachuted first into starting 10 for Ulster, then starting 6N games within the space of one season, at such a young age. When on form (and through slightly ulster coloured specs), his distribution, kicking out of hand and game management is better than Mads’. Although Madigan is more capable of the eye catching break, and his goal kicking is more consistent.
Actually thought in the recent Leinster ulster game, although Madigan got all the headlines for his opportunist try; in the 1st half when there was parity between the packs, Jackson ran the show better. Needs a few more good games before he plays his way back into the Ireland squad, but I think he will.
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How can a 10 who can’t expose a team out wide when playing v 13 men with a dominant pack Infront of him get so much praise. Leinster were not going to win that game until the sending off.
He missed kick after kick and all the tries were either one pass bashes or in our backs try a good break from Jimmy and a great line from Reid. In fairness he took his one well.
My point is he cannot create or expose space even v 14 or twice this year v 13 men.
Gopperth took all the kicks in that game mate.
Bas, Chris is talking about Gopperth not Madigan.
I’m convinced that some of the more old fashioned coaches (Kidney) are more influenced by the head on him than they are by the actual form produced.
When Madigan’s form is better than Gopperth’s it doesn’t matter but when vice versa it does!
I see. The article is about Madigan though.. Madigan and Lukey in the centre again in ercc tomorrow will be interesting
Even if he isn’t picked at 10 for Leinster he is still the obvious choice after Sexton. We have two class out halves, one in France and the other in Leinster. Let’s face facts.
Well if I was Joe I’d be thinking about JJ H long before Mads.
You mean a bench warmer? Really?
Range Rover don’t be daft!
Go home Range Rover, you’re high.
Joe Schmidt and the IRFU might not tell the coach who to pick, but I’m sure the players choice is affected by their international chances. Payne probably let the coach know he’d like to play 13 and Henshaw likely moved from 15 to 13 too because BOD is much older than Kearney. MOC is gonna choose what he’s gonna choose, but I’m sure his players telling him they want to play in ‘x’ position has an impact
I think paddy Jackson is the best outhalf but madagin is a better place kicker and in test rugby you have to take every point thats going
What year is this? 2013?
Blue even then Madigan was superior.
The Kidney decision at the time was just like the current MOC situation with the coach being unswayed by evidence because he simply doesn’t like Madigan.
In 2013 Madigan was playing far better than Jackson.
That’s going to be an unpopular statement, but there’s some sense in it. PJ has had some trouble with a back injury, and suffered an almost inevitable loss of form after being parachuted first into starting 10 for Ulster, then starting 6N games within the space of one season, at such a young age. When on form (and through slightly ulster coloured specs), his distribution, kicking out of hand and game management is better than Mads’. Although Madigan is more capable of the eye catching break, and his goal kicking is more consistent.
Actually thought in the recent Leinster ulster game, although Madigan got all the headlines for his opportunist try; in the 1st half when there was parity between the packs, Jackson ran the show better. Needs a few more good games before he plays his way back into the Ireland squad, but I think he will.
Good to see heslip back so quickly I wonder is it to do with how well his replacement played.just saying