Backup players take full advantage of opportunity

What do Devin Toner, Chris Henry and Tommy Bowe have in common?

Not so long ago they were certain starters in Joe Schmidt's Ireland team.

The problem in recent weeks and months was a mixture of Iain Henderson’s rise, a mini-stroke and an incomprehensible loss of form.

Dave Kearney has taken advantage of the latter. Keith Earls too.

Anyway, all three men pulled on jerseys numbers 4, 7 and 14 to face Romania knowing it could be for the last time. That’s powerful motivation for seasoned professionals.

"The two players who were under the biggest pressure - Dev Toner and Tommy Bowe - I thought both of them were outstanding today considering the pressure they must have felt," said Henry. "For me, those two really stuck to it. They've shown already they are two quality players."

Toner had something close to his best game for Ireland after 21 starts and 27 caps.

“I said it after the Captain’s Run, I know I hadn’t played well after the first two games and against England I fell off a couple of tackles,” Toner admitted. “I wasn’t playing very well but hopefully I put my hand up today.”

He unquestionably did, dominating the lineout, making one clean line break and sticking to 11 Romanian ball carriers.

“Did I?”

You did.

“Well, in the last five minutes I had fairly bad cramp, just coming down from the lineout, they came down the back of me which I was annoyed about.

“I feel like I put a lot of work in.”

The problem is Donnacha Ryan covers more options on the bench so if Henderson - Ireland’s best player right now - is fit to start then Toner may be back in the stand at the Olympic stadium next Sunday.

“Joe is the man to ask about that. I’m fairly confidence I can play off the bench, I’m fairly confident starting. It’s up to him really.”

The Ryan option puts Henry, the specialist seven, on the bench, especially on this performance - 14 carries and 11 tackles. Schmidt may even reassess his backrow dynamic. Unlikely, but Henry looks like the openside he was when Ireland captured the 2014 Six Nations title (when Sean O’Brien was injured).

“This was the night to give Joe a headache, for a lot of us,” said Henry. “Whether we have done enough or not I don’t know. Of course you want to start. Unfortunately I got some tough competition in that starting backrow.

“It was a great opportunity for lads who thought they might have started last week.

"I enjoy getting ball, I got a lot of it tonight. Usually I am doing the dirty work, rucking or defensive duties but the ball came to me more. I've been working on that. Jason Cowman has done some good work with me in the gym, I've got some good scores, kept my feet alive.

“But priority number one for me is generating quick ruck ball. I gave away one penalty around the neck which is one of these new rules that I was very disappointed myself. Overall, I’m reasonably happy.”

Bowe strolls past on the phone. No words needed really. Two well taken tries, two huge catches above his head and a performance befitting his reputation.

“Joe’s made big calls before,” Henry added. “He usually doesn’t get it wrong. He’ll see who is in form and what players have done enough today, he’ll see the smallest things so if you haven’t worked those first five metres hard enough he notices those small little details.”

This we know.