Best urges Schmidt to extend Irish stay

RORY Best hopes head coach Joe Schmidt will decide to commit his long-term future to Ireland.

Schmidt’s current Ireland deal expires after next year’s World Cup in Japan, but the in-demand boss has already revealed he will make a decision about his next move before the end of the calendar year.

Kiwi coach Schmidt may well opt to return to his native New Zealand for a crack at leading the All Blacks, but Ulster hooker Best hopes he could sign on for more with Ireland.

Best believes Schmidt has transformed Irish rugby at every level and insisted his legacy will last for generations, well beyond whenever he calls time on his current coaching stint.

“From a player’s point of view, and even from an Irish rugby fan’s point of view, you want to see the best coaches staying and he’s the best coach I’ve ever worked with,” said Best. “In my opinion he’s one of the best coaches in the world. So that’s who you want in charge of the national team.

“But he has got to do what’s right for him, and if that is a change then his legacy will go on longer than just the silverware that sits in trophy cabinets. I think that what Joe has done for Irish rugby, not just for the national team but Leinster, is evident.

“No matter what Joe does, he has changed Irish rugby and how we perceive performance and preparation.

“His legacy will obviously be trophies, what Leinster have become and what Ireland are pushing towards becoming and have achieved. But it will also be about the coaches that he brings through in years to come.

“You maybe won’t see that yet, perhaps with Paul (O’connell) at Stade. But you’ll probably start to see that more and more, as guys have had five, six, 10 years involved with him, start to retire and start to take up that side of the game. That will probably be the lasting legacy.”

Maitland happy with Murrayfield return

RETURNING to Murrayfield’s home comforts will help Scotland get their autumn campaign up and running against Fiji, believes Sean Maitland.

Gregor Townsend’s side lost 21-10 to Wales in Cardiff in their opener, their sixth straight Test on the road since beating England in February.

But they have won eight of their past nine matches at Murrayfield, their only defeat a close shave with New Zealand.

“Our track record has been pretty good,” said the Saracens wing. “It’s sold out as well so that will add to the energy the crowd gives us at Murrayfield. There’ll be no complacency at all. We know how difficult the game will be and it’s going to be a great battle.”