Iain Henderson: World Cup selection not a factor in unconvincing Ireland display
Stand-in captain Iain Henderson insists looming World Cup selection was not a factor in Ireland’s underwhelming efficiency in scraping previous Samoa.
Ireland have been removed from convincing in rain-soaked Bayonne however finally emerged with a thirteenth consecutive win on the eve of Andy Farrell naming his 33-man squad for France.
Second-half tries from Conor Murray and Rob Herring earned an unconvincing 17-13 success after Samoa battled again to steer following Jimmy O’Brien’s early rating.
Six Ireland gamers are set for disappointment on Sunday afternoon when Farrell publicizes his remaining squad.
But Henderson, who skippered a mix-and-match line-up at Stade Jean Dauger, does not really feel that scenario contributed to a disjointed display which just about ended in an upset.
“No and if it did it’s in all probability one of many adversities that Faz (Farrell) would really like us to be examined by,” stated the lock.
It is an extremely sturdy group of men and the fellows who’ve been ready to search out out their destiny have in all probability carried themselves in addition to you may have anticipated them to all through coaching.
Iain Henderson
“That’s not essentially the most tough factor we’re going to face over the following variety of weeks.
“It’s an extremely sturdy group of men and the fellows who’ve been ready to search out out their destiny have in all probability carried themselves in addition to you may have anticipated them to all through coaching.
“The fellows who’re nervous about selection, who is likely to be carrying that nervousness have educated properly, everybody’s been on time, been as diligent as potential all through the critiques, staying on prime of stuff.
“It’s been a well-prepped Check week for us, so hats off to these guys who’ve been prepping so properly.
“I feel it’s not that aspect of issues that affected us, it was a handful of different issues like circumstances, in all probability nice strain introduced by Samoa.”
Head coach Farrell is awaiting harm information on prop Cian Healy.
Veteran loosehead Healy hobbled off in the primary half with assist from medical workers as a result of a calf situation, throwing his participation in a fourth World Cup of his profession into doubt.
Henderson, who has endured loads of his personal health points in current occasions, empathised along with his Ireland team-mate.
“I’ve felt it a handful of occasions this marketing campaign,” he stated.
“It’s worse when it’s a team-mate however even watching different guys from different nations who need to play at a World Cup, whether or not it’s their first, second or third, choose up an harm it’s not good.
“It’s a crescendo of onerous work over 4 years and to see that pulled away from somebody in the dying minutes of that four-year cycle is not good.
“Once more, it’s the sport we’ve all signed as much as and, once more, that’s the explanation what we do is so particular, it means a lot to us as a result of it’s so fragile generally.”
