Monday, September 6, 2010

Schmidt: New prop "doing a bloody good job"

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt, cited a 'lack of hunger' and naivety as the reason for his sides second half collapse in Glasgow last Friday. But the Kiwi had nothing but praise for his new recruit from amateur rugby, prop Simon Shawe.

The eastern province led the Warriors 16-6 at the break but conceded a host of penalties in the third quarter, eventually leading to a 3 point defeat and Schmidt was clearly unhappy with the manner of the turnaround:

"I thought we were naive, in that we probably didn't look after the ball as much as we needed to. We were not well enough disciplined, we gave away penalties that were a bit naive, I think we gave it up to easily.

The former Clermont Auvergne coach, standing next to a soaked training surface in UCD added:
"Glasgow really out-hungered us in the end, they chased harder, they were more proactive on the ball. And I think that's a disappointing thing when we led by 10 points at half time.

One man who is not about to go hungry is Shawe. After moving from the amateur game he is trying to bulk up, in order to cope with the demands of the continental competition. Schmidt was visibly enthused by what he has seen so far of the prop:
"Simon Shaw is just still eating a lot, staying big ,and holding the scrum up and he's doing a bloody good job of it." 

"We're really delighted that Simon came down from Ballymena. There's a big difference between playing AIL (division) two, to suddenly going out in the Magners League and having to front up against guys who've played international footie." Adding: "We're really happy with where he's started and we hope we can push him on a bit together.

The crowd gathered close under sodden umbrellas, desperate for more information on Shawe. Had the man been close by, his face may have turned bright red with embarrassment: "what's he like? Where does he live? What's his phone number?" Schmidt laughed off the inquisition:

"Top man, he's a dead solid fella, I could tell you literally (he is) still an amateur, he's come along and joined us just because he wants to play footie."
And his whereabouts?: "I don't know if I can give you a specific address... he's commuting, staying either with other players or in a hotel during the week.

How much tactical advice could be given to an amateur new to the team? A simple answer from the coach:  "Push harder."

When the Cardiff Blues visit the RDS on Saturday the eastern province are likely to be able to introduce some more Irish internationals to the fray. And the Kiwi's criticism of stand in fly-half Isa Nacewa's kicking from hand, could signal a call for one of Leinster's up and coming 10's. Provided Jonathan Sexton is still held back.

"Isa (Nacewa) kicked one into touch on the full, missed a penalty, when he was going for touch and I think Lukey (Fitzgerald) kicked one out on the full aswell." Said Schmidt, before admitting:
"We toyed with the idea of going with Ian Madigan or Ian McKinley, one of the younger guys. But we just thought, mostly for organisation, Isa's been around for a number of years some of the other guys are young. 
"We sort of lost shape in the second half against Leicester and Wasps so we thought that might give us more organisation - and less kicking."

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