Joe Schmidt extends Ireland deal but Lions coaching question still lingers

News that Joe Schmidt is to extend his stint as Ireland coach until June 2017 received a predictably positive response yesterday, but the addition of just one year onto the Kiwi’s current deal raises as many questions as it provides answers.

Schmidt was already contracted through to the summer of 2016, and the new deal will therefore expire more or less as the Lions depart for their 2017 tour to New Zealand. Perfect timing? Anything but, actually.

Warren Gatland took a sabbatical from his job as Wales coach to prepare for the last Lions voyage, to Hong Kong and Australia two years ago, and it would be almost impossible to imagine anyone taking on that role without giving it a similar level of undivided attention.

It may well be that the new deal includes a ‘get-out clause’ that allows Schmidt to take up the role of Lions head coach if it is offered — and he is many bookies’ favourite — but the IRFU is not exactly in the business of divulging the small print at times such as these.

And so the guessing game goes on.

Schmidt’s additional 12 months has also been mentioned in relation to the fact that Steve Hansen’s time in charge of the All Blacks is due to end at the same juncture. Here again is a case of two and two not automatically adding up to four.

New Zealand have always promoted from ‘within’ in that their national coaches have served their time at Super Rugby level before being promoted to the top job. And, as with Gatland, the currency of Schmidt’s success in Europe dilutes significantly in their native land.

All that said, the decision to commit to an extra season was broadly welcomed given his successes at Leinster where he claimed two Heineken Cups, a league title and a Challenge Cup, as well as with Ireland with whom he has already claimed two Six Nations titles.

“Yeah, it’s brilliant,” said Simon Zebo who was yesterday promoting the adidas Munster jerseys for the 2015/16 campaign along with provincial and international teammates Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony. “It’s just a bit of solidity.

“You know you don’t have to deal with changes and learning a new game plan and things like that. We would be pretty regimented in things we know so far. He’s sticking around, he’s a brilliant coach, very successful. Hopefully we can get more success with him.”

Zebo’s relationship with Schmidt has been assiduously pored over by now. It is no secret that the winger was challenged to improve on certain elements of his game before being handed an extended run out on the tramlines in a green jersey.

Being dropped for the last Six Nations game earlier this year, against Scotland, reopened the debate as to where Zebo stood in the coach’s affections, but the Corkman was effusive in his praise of the national team’s coach even if it would have been preferable to see him sign up for even longer.

“Yeah, it would probably be easier if he (had), but it’s all on Joe really. He has family and all that to think about for a long time down the road. I’m just delighted he is sticking on and everyone is happy. It’s great to know he will be around and we can continue working with a great coach.”

Yesterday’s news was hardly unexpected, given IRFU chief executive Philip Browne revealed months ago that talks were imminent and the fact that both Eddie O’Sullivan and Declan Kidney were handed extensions to their deals prior to the 2007 and 2011 World Cups respectively.

Neither finished out those terms although Grenoble coach Bernard Jackman said on RTÉ 2fm last night that there was “no down side” to Schmidt’s latest signature.

“England went the other way by recontracting Stuart Lancaster until 2019 last year and people said ‘aw it’s crazy, he’s going to be judged on the World Cup’, but those long-term contracts have performance clauses anyway.

“So, from the view of Irish rugby, the fans and the players, the important thing is we know that we have Joe until at least 2017. Hopefully then we can look to extend that.”