Joe Schmidt free to get back to business

It would have been some shock yesterday had the IRFU announced that Joe Schmidt was going to leave at the end of the season.

Instead, their confirmation that he has agreed to remain in place until after the 2019 Rugby World is hardly surprising, and just tidies up a bit of housekeeping which had dragged on a bit longer than either party intended.

The announcement is timely though, just as the focus switches to a busy autumn international series with two more cracks at New Zealand in search of that elusive win, along with the visit of Australia and Canada as well.

At least now the focus can be on the action on the field as countdown begins in earnest to the historic clash with the All Blacks in Chicago on Saturday week.

The rugby public, not to mention Schmidt and the IRFU, will now at least be spared the ‘will he, won’t he?’ saga which would inevitably kick in over the coming days.

The confirmation of the deal now also lays out the pathway in clear terms for what can happen between now and Japan in 2019 when Ireland will hope to finally get past the quarter-final stage at a Rugby World Cup.

It’s only three years ago next month since Schmidt took over, his first two campaigns yielding Six Nations titles, with a first southern hemisphere win in Argentina in 2014 and a maiden victory in South Africa last June.

Everything will now point towards success in Japan in 2019, with eight blocks of games between now and then.

There will be three series of autumn tours, starting on Saturday week, three Six Nations campaigns and two summer tours.

The first of those will be next summer in Japan, with a game against the USA, possibly in New York, en route, while in June 2018 Ireland are scheduled to tour Australia.

Schmidt has handed debuts to 26 players since he took charge and has used 71 players in that time. Ireland have played 35 games under Schmidt, winning 23, losing 11, drawing one. They have played 13 countries and defeated them all with the exception of New Zealand.

Schmidt, of course, came so close to delivering that win in his third match in charge but Ireland got caught at the death by his native country when they were pipped 24-22, having led 19-0 at one stage.

Schmidt will hope that they can finally reach that milestone this autumn, either in Chicago on Saturday week or in Dublin two weeks later.

Yesterday’s confirmation that he is remaining will also mean that other coaches such as Jake White and Pat Lam, who are out of contract at the end of season and would be considered contenders if there was a vacancy, can now also make alternate plans.

Schmidt said he was grateful to the IRFU for their patience in reaching agreement with the contract extension. Schmidt’s family situation was a key factor in his considerations about extending his contract.

“It is difficult at times being so far away from extended family but we appreciate how lucky we are to have the support we have here in Ireland. I’d like to thank the IRFU for their patience and confidence as the decision to continue took somewhat longer than I’d anticipated.

“The strength of the rugby community has been incredibly visible over the past week and the enthusiasm of management and players to improve and compete is complemented by a really positive camaraderie. The wider community has made us welcome and as a family we have benefitted immensely from their support,” said Schmidt in a statement.

David Nucifora, the IRFU performance director, said the contract extension was a big boost.

“Joe is one of the leading coaches in world rugby and it is fantastic for Irish rugby that he has committed until the end of the World Cup cycle,” he said.

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said that Schmidt had made a huge contribution to Irish rugby since he arrived to take over Leinster in 2010.

“Since coming to Ireland he has made a huge contribution to Irish rugby at provincial and national level and also actively supports our clubs across the four provinces.”

Meanwhile, former Ireland defence coach Mike Ford has been appointed as Toulon coach. Ford, fired by Bath last May after a disappointing campaign, was drafted in by Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal as backs coach after Diego Dominguez’s reign began disappointingly.

Now Boudjellal has fired Argentinian-born former Italian international Dominguez, despite them winning away to Sale Sharks in the Champions Cup at the weekend, and handed the reins to Ford.

Toulon have only won four of their opening eight games in the Top 14 and lost a first Champions Cup home game when Saracens turned them over two weeks ago.