Schmidt: No grudge over O’Connell kick

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt does not think his comments about Paul O’Connell last season will impact on the pair’s relationship in the national set-up.

The then Leinster head coach was highly critical of the Munster legend’s accidental kick which left winger David Kearney with concussion when the provinces clashed in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 at Thomond Park in April.

“All those matters are closed,” said Schmidt on RTÉ Radio 1 yesterday. “You’ve got to represent who you are coaching at the time.

“I felt I needed to represent Dave at the time. I felt he was the forgotten man on what was reported on the incident. He didn’t get an opportunity to play any of the play-off games at the end of the year as a result of that.”

Yet, he won’t be holding anything against O’Connell: “Not at all, I think that a lot of things on a rugby pitch happen incredibly quickly with a lot of traffic and distraction around you. With 30 men on the field, inevitably things that are unintentional happen but they need to be looked at to make sure that players are kept safe.”

As Schmidt continues his preparations for the upcoming autumn internationals he hopes for a better start with Ireland than Leinster four seasons ago, with five losses from the opening six matches. After Leinster’s poor run, the players spoke with him and assured him they were happy with the route he was taking.

“The one thing that gave me confidence was that they came to me after we lost in Edinburgh and I had started to question myself, I question myself (sometimes) even if we win, and they had faith in the direction we were heading. They wanted to keep heading in that direction.”

Schmidt is now looking forward to working with a broader mix of players from the four provinces and sees that as another challenge to be embraced.

“I have never been in this situation before, so I’m going to have to see how that pans out.

“Inevitably I will have less influence on them because I get them the week before the autumn tests and we’re going to have to make sure we’re pretty well organised. There’s not going to be an opportunity for any skill progression, so that’s something that needs to be achieved in the provinces.”

He also sympathised with departed coach Kidney: “I think any coach would sympathise with the situation the national team found themselves in with the number of injuries, particularly to pivotal players who make such a big difference, your key line out caller, your key organiser, all teams need a conductor of the orchestra and inevitably it’s a bit difficult if he’s not there so to springboard young guys into those positions is a tough ask for any coach.”