Bad calls turn up heat on Schmidt before Six Nations
JOE SCHMIDT is poised to deliver a New Year message this morning, taking the stage for a 25-minute address at the Pendulum Summit in the Dublin Convention Centre.
The two-times Six Nations-winning coach will inform delegates how a combination of hard work, inspiration and motivation helps him overcome adversity and maintain a successful, balanced life.
It sums up the New Zealander’s 2016 challenge perfectly. Given Ireland’s ugly World Cup exit, Schmidt could find life a little more uncomfortable when the curtain falls on February after fixtures at home to Wales and then away to both France and England.
Given that he is far more used to winning than losing (20 of 26 Test outings prior to the mauling by Argentina in October ended in victory) he could find himself looking for home wins over traditional Six Nations strugglers Italy and Scotland to draw a line under an unprecedented losing streak ahead of a daunting three-Test series in South Africa in June.
It is, perhaps, a pessimistic view but it’s not without merit.
We are still awaiting a detailed explanation as to why Ireland’s defence was so passive when it mattered against the Pumas and facing into the Six Nations without a replacement for Les Kiss only adds to the prevailing mood.
Andy Farrell can consider himself fortunate to have secured employment with Ireland just a month after his England release; his stock is at an all-time low following the latter’s embarrassing World Cup pool exit added to the Sam Burgess farrago. The fact that he is on RFU-enforced gardening leave until after the Six Nations denies the possibility of a close-up study of him under pressure. It also leaves Schmidt and co with the added burden of minding the defence when greater emphasis could be focused on Ireland’s restrictive attacking game.
Already a coach down due to the delay in signing up Farrell, the decision not to recruit a specialist attack coach over the winter could see Ireland’s run of Six Nations success come to an abrupt halt.