Tony Ward believes Joe Schmidt’s selection at openside flanker for the visit of the All Blacks on Saturday will be one of the key decisions when he names his starting team later this week.
Jordi Murphy took the seven jersey for the win over New Zealand in Chicago, but is expected to be out of action for between six and nine months after damaging the ACL in his left knee at Soldier Field.
The battle for the openside berth looks likely to be a shoot-out between Leinster team-mates Josh van der Flier, who replaced Murphy in Chicago, and Seán O’Brien, who played 67 minutes in the win over Canada at the weekend.
Van der Flier, in just his third cap, more than played his part during his 54 minutes of action against New Zealand last time out, while O’Brien is continuing his road to recovery.
The 2011 ERC Player of the Year admitted he was disappointed not to make the squad for the historic win and made a number of trademark carries against Canada to put up his hand for selection for Saturday’s match (live on RTÉ 2, KO 5.30pm).
Former Ireland international Ward says it is a big decision in a highly competitive backrow.
“It’s a big decision whether it will be Seán O’Brien or Josh van der Flier,” he told RTÉ Sport.
“You would think because Van der Flier came on in Chicago last week and did so well, that logically, he would be the one to come in, but Joe doesn’t work like that.”
Van der Flier celebrates the historic win in Chicago
First-choice lock pairing Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, who missed the defeat in Chicago, are available again and will add a huge physical presence to the Kiwi pack, something that may come into Schmidt’s thinking.
“He will look to what New Zealand will have next week [with Retallick and Whitelock available]... It will be a different plan of action.
"Does he [Schmidt] go with natural balance or pick a team specifically to do a job"
“If that’s the case, do you bring in Seán O’Brien because he is such a great ball carrier and so strong close in?”
Ward also acknowledged that with a noted ball carrier like CJ Stander at blindside, Van der Flier would perhaps offer a more “natural” back-row selection.
“But does he go with natural balance or pick a team specifically to do a job close in?
“I think there is a big decision to be made there yet.”
