For Schmidt, far away hills aren’t always green
That means Gert Smal will finish with Ireland tomorrow in Toronto. That he is leaving and Les Kiss staying on is strange as we’ve always visualised them as a package. Gert is a hugely respected coach and brought serious value to the Irish set-up. His attention to detail was always impressive and his thoroughness in working a specific subject area was admirable. Health permitting, I still think he will be eyeing a head coach down the road, even if his special expertise is in forward play, particularly the lineout and breakdown areas. Gert is quiet but popular. I know there’s no room in sport for sentiment — nor should there be — but there's a sense here of him being moved on hastily. His sense of humour will stand to him. For certain, his rugby ‘son’, Paul O’Connell, will miss him. They spent hour after hour discussing every conceivable line-out variation.
Les Kiss will revert from attack coach to defence coach, meaning Anthony Foley will be surplus to requirements and return to Munster. Axel has so much to offer on both fronts. He was impressive coaching the defence throughout the autumn and the Six Nations and is a natural coach. He’s very sharp when it comes to rugby and in my view is a readymade forwards coach for the national set-up.
