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Ireland out half will begin training fully on
Thursday, according to boss Joe Schmidt
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt gave a positive update
on Johnny s*xton’s fitness when naming his
squad for the opening two rounds of the Six
Nations.
Joe Schmidt has admitted he relishes Eddie
Jones’ verbal “grenades” ahead of Ireland
launching their Six Nations defence against
England.
England boss Jones has already started the mind
games by claiming Ireland out half Johnny s*xton
has the “bat phone to the referee”.
Ireland head coach Schmidt laughed off Jones’
latest barb against s*xton, and revealed that
England’s Australian boss has already pledged to
keep the verbal jousting coming.
Ireland will begin their Six Nations campaign by
hosting England in Dublin on February 2nd, with
boss Schmidt insisting he is relaxed about the
“banter” between the coaches.
“Eddie walked past me earlier and said ‘let’s get
ready for a few grenades’,” said Schmidt. “He told
me he was going to keep them coming!
“He’s incredibly hard to read, because you don’t
know if he means what he’s saying or if he’s
joking.
“I think it keeps it fresh, it keeps it entertaining. It
does make me think ‘is he serious about that?’.
“Is Jack Nowell going to play seven? Is (Mark)
Wilson going to play there, or (Tom) Curry? It
does keep the opposition guessing.
“We are training in Portugal at the moment just
15 minutes away from England — and Eddie said
he might whip across and have a look. And
because that’s topical at the moment, he just
throws that into the conversation.
“I enjoy the banter with Eddie. He’s a smart
coach.”
s*xton has been battling a knee tendon injury,
but Schmidt confirmed the British and Irish Lions
fly-half should train fully on Thursday and be at
full-tilt to face England.
Jones’ latest claim about s*xton is to insist the
Leinster playmaker receives special audience from
referees.
The candid Australian coach claimed “when he
talks, the referee listens, that is because of his
status in the game”.
In November, Jones insisted s*xton receives
more protection from referees than England fly-
half Owen Farrell, while in 2016 he claimed the
Ireland player’s parents should be “worried” about
a whiplash injury.
Ireland in the past might have been riled by
Jones’ comments, but now Schmidt is adamant
he is ready to indulge in the mind games.
Asked about Jones’ “bat phone” comments on
s*xton, Schmidt replied: “Yeah, look I want to get
hold of it if I can. I’d like a direct dial myself.
“I don’t know that Commissioner Gordon is in the
building when matches are being played.
“With Johnny, I’m not sure Owen is that different,
or Dan Biggar either. They are demanding of
themselves, their co-players and officials.
“Because they are incredibly competitive they will
ask questions. They are also really intelligent
players. They know the rules of the game.
“Johnny doesn’t have as much to say for us
because he’s not skipper. Rory (Best) would be
the guy who is more face-to-face conversations
than bat phones — but I think he manages that
well as captain.”
Schmidt revealed Ulster lock Iain Henderson could
be fit for Ireland’s final two matches, against
France and Wales, owing to a finger issue.
On s*xton’s return to action, Schmidt added:
“Johnny trained yesterday. He will train fully on
Thursday when we try to ramp the training up a
little bit.
“Our expectation is that he will get through that
without any problem at all.
“Iain Henderson could potentially make the last
two weekends. Tadhg Beirne should possibly
make the third weekend, after his knee issue. I
feel bad for both of them.”
Source: www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/joe-schmidt-laughs-off-eddie-jones-barb-at-s*xton-1.3767788?mode=amp

Lol this guy is a joker