RWC 2015: Irish reinforcements not found wanting

It may be known as the night the bench stood up. When questions were asked and demands made in the broiling atmosphere of the Millennium Stadium, Joe Schmidt emptied his bench.

In the old days there might have been a noticeable rocking of the Irish effort. But if any of the many messages that emerge from the squad are to be believed, the one that says all the players are capable and ready, is one to be believed.

While the bench was emptied, it was Ian Madigan, Chris Henry and Iain Henderson that were called before their time. Ireland didn't fall backwards but moved forward under their influence.

Ironically it was the motivating words from O’Connell before the match that prepared many of the players for what lay ahead, Henry included.

“Paul spoke incredibly well in the changing room,” said the flanker. “He basically had everyone in tears before the match. It’s a brilliant day to be involved and to top the group.”

“We talked about being clinical and taking our chances, all these buzz words but today we knew it was going to take more from us and go deeper. The words he provided definitely got the best out of everyone. I feel lucky I was in that circle when he was able to speak. Amazing to be involved in.

“Every player is just desperate to get him back because if that would be Paulie’s last outing in a green jersey it would be really, really sad.”

Henderson, another of the brigade has always had a legion of fans admiring his ferocity and strength, his dynamic line breaking and his raw aggression.

When O'Connell was carried off the field, the stadium, if they were being honest, expected a hole to open in the Irish pack. Instead Henderson rose and grew and played, with his Ulster colleague Rory Best, one of his best games in an Irish shirt

“I started off playing against him (O’Connell),” said Henderson. “Obviously he’s an absolutely nightmare to play against, a brilliant lineout forward and his work is phenomenal.

“Coming in here, I started to train with him and to I’ve learn massive amounts about how professional he is and to be able to play alongside him, it’s just fantastic. He drives us around the pitch and his work rate inspires you to push yourself harder and further than you think you can potentially go.

“He’s off for a scan now, obviously it didn’t look good there but fingers crossed. We don’t know what’s going to happen there. But if there’s an opportunity there I’ll definitely try to rise to it.”

A wise head on young shoulders, Henderson will not try to become a facsimile of the legendary lock but a player who can fill the space in a different way.

“Yeah it’s massively important, I’m trying to create something of my own rather than just stepping in and doing something that someone else did,” he added.

“Obviously to try and fill Paul O’Connell’s boots, it would nigh-on impossible, he’s been absolutely sensational for Ireland over these past years. I think if someone tried to come in and do what he did better, you’d be silly, you’ve got to try and create your own profile.”

There never has been a confidence deficit in the team. And now more than ever that is the case. Argentina will be another challenge and players will have to go to where they went on Saturday plus a bit further. But it is becoming familiar for this Irish team to take that journey.

“I really believe we talked the last two years about building this squad,” said Henry. “It’s not the way it used to be, relying on several players. I think we can go deeper.

"Any team that wins a World Cup shows you have to go deeper and this is our test now. It's about people getting chances. Today the bench came into a very pressurised match, came in and did well."