Wednesday 22 October 2014 15:04, UK
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has rubbished allegations that he has blocked Darren Cave's chances of an international recall.
Schmidt has hit out at the "massive misnomer" that he influenced selection for provincial sides after selecting Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne for the autumn internationals.
Henshaw and Payne will compete for the No 13 jersey vacated by Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll on his retirement earlier this year, while Ulster centre Cave overlooked along with London Irish back Eoin Griffin.
Cave last year claimed his "face doesn't fit" with the Ireland set-up, while Griffin left Connacht to join the Exiles in the summer in the hope of boosting his chances of a call-up to the national side.
Schmidt insisted he was following the progress of Cave and Griffin, but he described accusations that he had ordered provincial coaches to select players in his chosen positions as "absolutely untrue".
"We've probably gone with Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne: they are the two guys who are playing 13," said Schmidt. "I think there has been a massive misnomer that I influence provincial selection.
"That is absolutely untrue: the guys that are selected in the centre, or to carry water, are nothing to do with my selections.
For someone to imply that Darren Cave has been blocked is wrong: he's very much on our radar
"They are the provincial coaches, they are looking to do their best for the province and that's the way it should be.
"For someone to imply that Darren Cave has been blocked is wrong: he's very much on our radar. Darren had a shoulder operation; he's come back from injury, then had a rib injury. But he's still a guy that's still in our thinking for 13.
"To say that Eoin Griffin may have left because he saw the writing on the wall is massively disappointing: he is still on our radar, we keep an eye on what's happening at London Irish.
"It's frustrating, because selection is a tough enough job without the impression we're influencing things. We have a very hands-off approach: we try not to interfere.
"We have a lot of faith in what they are delivering, and we benefit from the product of their efforts."
Schmidt also defended his decision to omit Paddy Jackson from his autumn squad, claiming the Ulster fly-half needs more game time with his club after being sidelined by injuries.
Racing Metro's Johnny Sexton remains Ireland's first-choice outside-half, with Leinster's Ian Madigan also among the squad for the November Tests against South Africa, Georgia and Australia.
"Paddy's only played one full game this season," said Schmidt, who preferred Munster's Ian Keatley ahead of Jackson. "He needs to be playing at the moment - he doesn't need to be training with us.
"He's obviously disappointed, but he's a tough young man, we've got a lot of respect for Paddy.
"Ian Keatley did very, very well on the summer's Emerging Ireland tour, the feedback was that he led by example, both on and off the field.
"This camp gives us a little bit of an opportunity to work with him and help him to develop him as a player."
Former New Zealand U21 international Payne has earned his first Ireland call-up after completing his three-year residency requirements at UIster, although Connacht youngster Henshaw is the firm favourite to start alongside Gordon D'Arcy.
"Jared has good variety in his kicking game, and his ability to read defensively at tackle time is good," added Schmidt. "He can carry and slip tackles, or at least win the gain-line, and I think you could just about say ditto for Robbie.
"He's also got a very good kicking game.
"His passing game I think is a super aspect to his game, Robbie, he's got a very good width and a really flat, wide pass - and the ability to make the subtle passes as well."
