OUR PLAN CANNOT BE BUILT AROUND ONE PERSON..
IRISH rugby is edging closer to its latest D-day, when Joe Schmidt informs the IRFU whether he wants to extend his contract or go.
Such has been the positive and winning influence that Schmidt has exerted here – first with Leinster and, since 2013, with the national team – it’s a decision that is awaited with bated breath.
The 53-year-old has confided that he will make up his mind after the November Series because he wants the IRFU to be able to put contigency plans in place if he is to finally return to his native New Zealand after next year’s World Cup.
If we go by the last time he had to decide on his future, it could be early in the new year before we see the white smoke.
At the launch of the IRFU’S strategic vision for the next five years, a number of ambitions were listed for both the men’s and women’s games.
For the men, the headline goals are two Rugby World Cup semi-finals and two or more Six Nations titles.
Ireland are currently the world’s second best team having claimed the Grand Slam last spring but the IRFU’S most powerful men believe they are realistic ambitions even if Schmidt goes.
‘My father, in his wisdom, used to say graveyards are full of people who thought they were indispensable,” said Philip Browne, the union’s chief executive.
“The reality is the plan can’t be built around one person. It has to be built around systems, processes and structures.
“I would imagine by the end of the year we would be in a position to know what his plans are and then that gives us the opportunity to get all of our plans (in place).”
Asked if it was time to make Schmidt an offer he can’t refuse, Browne joked: “I thought we did that the last time! He’s done a fantastic job and it’s not just about Joe, it’s about the people he has gathered around him, as a collective.
“Both in terms of the team management and their interaction with the high performance department and their interaction with the provinces and the quality of coaching and personnel that are now in the provinces.
“It’s a collective and at times people, certainly outside of Irish rugby, don’t understand that.
“Joe’s an important part of that collective and has done a fantastic job.
“David Nucifora is having conversations with Joe until he makes up his mind. We’ll be thinking about it once the November internationals are under the belt.”
The union’s performance director Nucifora is close to Schmidt and will hope to persuade him to stay beyond a five-year
I would imagine by the end of the year we would be in a position to know what his plans are...
tenure.
But if that doesn’t happen, he insists that Schmidt has put in place the necessary structure for success to continue – possibly under Andy Farrell, who the head coach brought on board in early 2016.
“A lot of the success is down to Joe,” said Nucifora. “He’s driven a lot of really good things in the Irish game – and not just with the national team.
“Part of his strength is that he’s built a team that can carry those things on, that can carry them forward.
“Any good programme has to be sustainable. A lot of the work that we do is about that.
“And regardless of whether Joe chooses to stay or go, he’d be the first one to tell you that he’s confident that it is sustainable.
“We’ve built something that is sustainable and we will be continuing to focus on that.”