Rugby coach Joe Schmidt was delighted by the British & Irish Lions squad’s stunning depth. They head into a matchup against Argentina on June 20 with their confidence renewed. Schmidt proved his abundant expertise during his time with the Ireland coach. The matches are interesting enough that he knows most of the 38 players selected for the Lions.
Schmidt, now 59, is excited to see the veterans and the new kids on the block. He’s excited to see where the game’s newfound potential will take them. He hopes that this will lead to meaningful information. That would show us the likely test match XV that Andy Farrell’s side should start to the Wallabies.
“And also just to see what combinations the Lions staff are deciding to put together, because that might give us an indication of who we might face in the first test. Because there’s a lot of competition for places,” – Joe Schmidt
Squad Selection Strategy
As he looks ahead to the series, Schmidt was keen to point out his plan to pick a form team. He has been chasing all those players based outside England. Notable members of this cohort are lock Will Skelton, centre Samu Kerevi, winger Marika Koroibete and flyhalf James O’Connor.
Schmidt set the tone early when he made no secret that his selection process would incorporate every in-form eligible player. That holds true for both foreign and homegrown talent. This commitment demonstrates a willingness to invest in a highly competitive team that can compete against the best in the world.
“We don’t want to discount anyone because, as Andy’s done, we’d love to pick a form squad,” – Joe Schmidt
He expressed a preference for the sides who had been most consistent with their training and playing together. In cases where the playing field is more level, Schmidt argues squad cohesion can become a key determinant of success.
“But as I’ve always said, if there’s anything that we think is 50-50, it’s more difficult to absorb someone in from outside of the groups that play together already. It’s just not the same cohesion,” – Joe Schmidt
The Importance of Competition
Given those circumstances, the next matches will be hugely important for Schmidt as he looks to further assess player performances and build team chemistry. He reiterated how each game is an opportunity to stake a claim to a starting shirt.
Schmidt was very aware of how competitive rugby is at this level. He repeated his belief that Australia cannot play a defensive game against the Lions and that an attacking style is essential.
“I don’t think that we can come out against the Lions and say, right, let’s try to shut the game down,” – Joe Schmidt
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