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Published 15:09 23 Nov 2017 GMT
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"This window for us was really an opportunity for us to see how guys go in a pressure situations. Chris acquitted himself pretty well last week and he got better as the game went on, so it is another window of opportunity for him." Schmidt added, "With all the wingers we brought in, we wanted to see how they trained and how they fitted in. He's given us the confidence to include him because he's worked really hard. He's picking up things all the time. With a bit of experience in that backline, around him, I'm really hopeful he gets a good first hit out at the weekend."The Ireland coach is well aware of the attacking potential Argentina possess but feels each of the players selected in his fresh-looking backline have merited their selections. Schmidt is taking some risks with this Ireland team selection and he could yet be hammered for it [or sternly criticised and scolded, at least] if Argentina tear us apart out wide again. However, he has enough credit in the bank and is doing the right thing for the future development of this side. The rewards of this bold team taking the field may not be fully realised until 2019 but, in the short term, any win will do. Schmidt had a chance to leave Ireland earlier this year and take up a coaching role within the All Blacks set-up but he is not leaving until 2019 at the earliest. His motivation is getting Ireland beyond a World Cup quarter final. But he wants to win the whole tournament and the work has already begun.
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