Schmidt hopes World Cup will reward Irish risk-taking

Simon Lewis Joe Schmidt hopes he will be able to look back on a disappointing Guinness Six Nations campaign as a significant building block towards a successful World Cup in Japan.

Joe Schmidt hopes he will be able to look back on a disappointing Guinness Six Nations campaign as a significant building block towards a successful World Cup in Japan.

Following a 25-7 defeat to Grand Slam winners Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, Ireland finished the 2019 championship — Schmidt’s sixth and last before stepping down as head coach after this autumn’s World Cup — in third place behind runners-up England.