IRELAND HEAD COACH Joe Schmidt joked that he has to consult with his mother in New Zealand before engaging in talk about a new contract.
The double Six Nations-winner’s existing deal with Ireland has just a year left to run and his track record of delivering silverware will mean he is coach in high demand around Europe.
At the tail end of the Six Nations, the New Zealander said he would wait until after the summer tour to discuss the possibility of extending his stay in Ireland. And that stance is unchanged, he said at the Aviva Stadium today.
“I just have to report in with my mum at home after the tour. I have to have a chat with her,” he said with a laugh from the top table after Ireland launched a new jersey and sponsor.
“I don’t know who’s been tipping off my kids, but they’re all bullying me at the moment.”
It’s one of those things that hasn’t taken up my time recently, it’s been fully focused (on the summer tour). You don’t get many opportunities to go to a place like South Africa, we’ve never won there and we’re motivated to be as competitive as we can be.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to invest in some players who haven’t had a lot of time with us before.
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“Even through seeing how they travel, how they train, how they can turn up in what will be a very loud (environment). They’re going to have to demonstrate they can cope with the pressure of that.”
Out of favour Connacht lock Quinn Roux will be one of the new faces around the squad next month. The South African-born lock raised eyebrows when he earned a call-up as he has had to sit behind Andrew Browne, Aly Muldowney and Ultan Dillane in Jimmy Duffy’s pack.
Quinn Roux has struggled to make Connacht's 23 since returning from injury. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Schmidt’s reasoning for picking the ex-Leinster man is Roux’s familiarity with the tighthead side of the second row in a group where Devin Toner is the only regular number five — though Donnacha Ryan has plenty of experience in the role too. Muldowney has been an excellent exponent in that jersey for Connacht this season, but a combination of his 32 years and summer move to Grenoble appear to have worked against him.
“He has been in and out with Connacht,” Schmidt says about Roux.
“One of the things with the four other second rows we’ve picked is that they all tend to play on the loosehead side of the scrum. Quinn was the sole tighthead side player who was fully fit and available. He’s a very strong scrummager and he’s very good in the line-out.
“If you go to South Africa, you’ve got to be very good at set-piece. Quinn is very good at set-piece, it’s an investment in Quinn and we’re very keen for Quinn to invest in us.”
There is an investment being made in 27-year-old Ulster back row Sean Reidy too. A late burst of form in the number eight jersey edged him up the pecking order of back rows in Ireland and the natural openside squeezed into the squad ahead of his Ulster team-mate Chris Henry and Tommy O’Donnell.
Man in possession: Tommy O'Donnell was Ireland's openside at the end of the Six Nations. Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
The Tipperary man did sustain a concussion late in the season, but Schmidt seemed to allude that the reason O’Donnell will not travel south is also partly down to the timing of his wedding, which falls on the weekend of the third Test.
“He picked up an injury at the end of the season and that’s probably okay right now. But he wasn’t going to be available for the full tour. And, as a result of that, it’s made it a bit complicated with Tommy.
“We demonstrated how keen we are on Tommy, selecting him to start against Scotland, so he’s the most recent guy that has played seven for us. It’s just, we believe that the tour will be quite attritional and we’re going to need everyone to be on deck and fully available.
“That’s why some of the guys who recovered from injury have been left behind to complete their recovery and why other people haven’t been selected because we know they won’t be able to complete the full tour.”
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'I've to report in with my mum after the tour': Schmidt focus on 'Boks before new contract
IRELAND HEAD COACH Joe Schmidt joked that he has to consult with his mother in New Zealand before engaging in talk about a new contract.
The double Six Nations-winner’s existing deal with Ireland has just a year left to run and his track record of delivering silverware will mean he is coach in high demand around Europe.
At the tail end of the Six Nations, the New Zealander said he would wait until after the summer tour to discuss the possibility of extending his stay in Ireland. And that stance is unchanged, he said at the Aviva Stadium today.
“I just have to report in with my mum at home after the tour. I have to have a chat with her,” he said with a laugh from the top table after Ireland launched a new jersey and sponsor.
“I don’t know who’s been tipping off my kids, but they’re all bullying me at the moment.”
“It’s an incredible opportunity to invest in some players who haven’t had a lot of time with us before.
“Even through seeing how they travel, how they train, how they can turn up in what will be a very loud (environment). They’re going to have to demonstrate they can cope with the pressure of that.”
Out of favour Connacht lock Quinn Roux will be one of the new faces around the squad next month. The South African-born lock raised eyebrows when he earned a call-up as he has had to sit behind Andrew Browne, Aly Muldowney and Ultan Dillane in Jimmy Duffy’s pack.
Schmidt’s reasoning for picking the ex-Leinster man is Roux’s familiarity with the tighthead side of the second row in a group where Devin Toner is the only regular number five — though Donnacha Ryan has plenty of experience in the role too. Muldowney has been an excellent exponent in that jersey for Connacht this season, but a combination of his 32 years and summer move to Grenoble appear to have worked against him.
“He has been in and out with Connacht,” Schmidt says about Roux.
“One of the things with the four other second rows we’ve picked is that they all tend to play on the loosehead side of the scrum. Quinn was the sole tighthead side player who was fully fit and available. He’s a very strong scrummager and he’s very good in the line-out.
“If you go to South Africa, you’ve got to be very good at set-piece. Quinn is very good at set-piece, it’s an investment in Quinn and we’re very keen for Quinn to invest in us.”
There is an investment being made in 27-year-old Ulster back row Sean Reidy too. A late burst of form in the number eight jersey edged him up the pecking order of back rows in Ireland and the natural openside squeezed into the squad ahead of his Ulster team-mate Chris Henry and Tommy O’Donnell.
The Tipperary man did sustain a concussion late in the season, but Schmidt seemed to allude that the reason O’Donnell will not travel south is also partly down to the timing of his wedding, which falls on the weekend of the third Test.
“He picked up an injury at the end of the season and that’s probably okay right now. But he wasn’t going to be available for the full tour. And, as a result of that, it’s made it a bit complicated with Tommy.
“We demonstrated how keen we are on Tommy, selecting him to start against Scotland, so he’s the most recent guy that has played seven for us. It’s just, we believe that the tour will be quite attritional and we’re going to need everyone to be on deck and fully available.
“That’s why some of the guys who recovered from injury have been left behind to complete their recovery and why other people haven’t been selected because we know they won’t be able to complete the full tour.”
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investments Joe Schmidt quinn roux South Africa Springboks summer tour Tommy O'Donnell