Schmidt eyes Ireland progress

This was not as grim and attritional as a few of us had feared.

In Leicester, England, Argentina moved closer to a place in the World Cup quarter-finals after a comprehensive 45-16 win against Tonga in Pool C.

Iain Henderson – 9: Had a huge impact in the game. Ireland have now won 18 of their last 22 internationals, which is not a record to be sniffed at. “Still we were always hoping it was going to come down to this game to decide who tops top the table and it has”, added the 35-year-old from Limerick. That was not the momentum we were looking for going into next week.

The Irish Examiner’s Rugby Correspondent Simon Lewis gives his views on Ireland after their RWC clash with Italy at the Olympic Stadium.

“It was a probably a timely reminder of where we needed to be”, said the Ireland skipper. “It looked flat at times and it was flat at times”. There is so much quality in the rest of the competition and with France, if we turn over the ball to them with the forward carriers they have, the backs they have, we’ll be in big trouble.

“France are an incredible side with incredible talent”.

It will make a difference to them, for the top finisher will play Argentina, whereas the team that finishes second will face the tournament favourites, the All Blacks.

“Every now and again I think it does no harm to be brought back down to earth and Italy definitely did that today”, said Best.

Robbie Henshaw – 7: Ran a great line and offloaded well for Earls’ try. But the Italians too deserve credit.

Did you see yesterday’s game against Italy? France have not beaten Ireland since 2011.

10 – The number of offloads made by Italy, double the number made by Ireland.

However the successful Italy kick appeared to galvanise the sluggish Irish team into action, and in the next 10 minutes they had enough territorial dominance to stretch the lead with two further Sexton penalties. Three weeks ago he was on crutches.

Still Italy pressed, but Parisse – hardly fit after his calf haematoma – could continue no longer. Athletic is a fitting word do describe Henderson’s performance in a game at the Olympic Stadium. As Parisse admitted afterwards that moment might have been critical.

Again Ireland diced with danger, pulling down an Italy maul to allow Allan to post his third penalty and cut Ireland’s lead to a solitary point.

Ten metres out from their own line, Andrea Manici’s throw was picked by Peter O’Mahony and Ireland went wide after a couple of phases.

Schmidt expects the Ulster star to be ready for that session and will need him to take a full part to then warrant selection for Les Bleus.

Ireland knew they were in for a game after the break but their intensity levels never rose and were very fortunate not to conced a try in the 48th minute.

Sean Cronin – 6: Continued where Best left off.

There was not a similar reaction to when O’Mahony was sin-binned in the 72nd minute.

“You can’t turnover ball to them, guys like Gori, Parisse, Luke McLean”.