Caelan Doris: Joe Schmidt doesn't have inside track on 'evolved' Ireland
Captain's ©inpho/dan During Caelan Ireland's And Bundee Run Doris Aki Picture: Sheridan
Caelan Doris believes the success of Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series campaign will be determined by his team’s final performance against a fast-improving Australia side in Dublin on Saturday as Wallabies Joe Schmidt makes his return to the Aviva Stadium.
Schmidt, described by his successor Andy Farrell on Thursday as Ireland’s most successful head coach for his trophy-laden spells in charge of both Leinster and Ireland between 2010 and 2019, brings a rejuvenated Australian side to his old stomping ground with both nations looking to end the November window on a high.
There is also the added dimension of this Test being the final Wallabies game before next summer’s British & Irish Lions tour Down Under, when Farrell will once more go head to head with the coach who first brought him into Irish rugby as the national team defence coach in 2016.
None of that is lost on the Ireland captain as Farrell’s squad look to deliver their best performance of the month having steadily improved since a demoralising defeat in week one at home to New Zealand. Ireland have since beaten Argentina 22-19 and then Fiji 52-17 while Australia have beaten England and Wales before losing last time out to Scotland.
“We're definitely aware what's at stake,” Doris said. “It's a big game for us as well.
“We've the chance to go three from four and improve our performance. I think a lot lies on this weekend in terms of the success of the autumn for us and how that's viewed in terms of how we get our performance right because last week was good, the first half was good against Argentina, we weren't where we needed to be against the All Blacks.
“If we can show the progression in our performance this week, I think there's a lot on the line there.”
Doris paid tribute to Schmidt’s impact on Irish rugby but was less certain how much of an inside track the New Zealander had on the current set-up five years on from his own involvement.
“In terms of Joe having insight, it's probably evolved quite a bit. His stamp on the game within Ireland is definitely still there as well, the professionalism that he brought the game to, a lot of the habits and his focus on building the right habits is still there, but there's been evolutions there as well I would say.”
So too in Schmidt’s early stages as Australian boss, rebuilding a squad whose morale was shattered by a disastrous World Cup campaign in France 13 months ago under former head coach Eddie Jones.
Doris said: “I think it's been a pretty steady growth. Through the Rugby Championship you definitely saw improvements through how they were playing from the start.
“Then in the autumn against England and Wales in particular they were very impressive, you can see they're very passionate about their attack, you can see Joe's stamp on the game in terms of their trick-plays and first two, three phases, coming up with different unique plays around that to break down defences so we're going to have to be on high alert there.
“They've definitely improved a ton this season and we're ready for a big challenge.”
The Ireland skipper also paid tribute to his Leinster and Ireland team-mate Cian Healy, who is set to break Brian O’Driscoll’s record as his country’s leading appearance maker should the loosehead prop come off the bench against Australia for his 134th cap, 15 years on from a debut against the Wallabies at Croke Park.
“He’s a great fella, very popular amongst the squad. It's funny, I’ve obviously watched him from not quite my primary school days but early secondary school days and remember him exploding onto the scene and changing what it was to be a prop.
"He was so dynamic, some of his carries back then. We were actually watching some of his highlights during the week from his debut against Australia funnily enough in Croke Park but some of his carries so explosive, stepping, skill-set and his longevity has been unbelievable. Like 134 caps is just wild and how many is that with Leinster as well?
“I think that’s in large part testament to how well he looks after himself. I had the pleasure of rooming with him in Ireland for about four years and he’s up to all sorts of tricks in terms of his recovery. Sometimes sleeping on the ground with his legs elevated, sleeping on acupressure mats, mindfulness and even all sorts of cold showers, loads of stretching and it’s stood to him in terms of his body and the ability to stay going at this age.
“He’s very much his own man as well. People were saying during the week how he hasn’t changed a whole lot since when he first came in. He’s got his own unique and obscure hobbies and does his own thing off the pitch but yeah, he’s true to himself which is a good thing.”