“If he goes, he goes and if he stays, he stays,” the 23-year-old said, adding:
“It’s a personal decision (for Schmidt). It’s one that will impact the team, but hopefully what he has done to date will really stand to us.”
The IRFU will meet the Kiwi in the next 36 hours to open a discussion around the post and while Ryan has had limited experience with other professional coaches, he knows the value of the man who delivered Leinster to back-to-back Heineken Cups.
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“I only played three times under Michael Cheika, but I know from the senior players that when (Schmidt) came in, the value and techniques he brought in made a huge difference.”
Crucial
However, the flanker maintained that this successful Leinster group – beaten only by Clermont in two European seasons – was defined by the unit’s symbiotic relationship, not by its figurehead.
“He is a crucial part to our team, but the team isn’t just about the one man, or the one coach.
“If you look at all the players… I’m not going to say we couldn’t have got to where we are without him, but he couldn’t have got us to where we are without us. You know what I mean?
“A lot of it is talent, but then it’s harvesting that talent out of the team and Joe has done a very good job in doing that. But if he was to leave – and I don’t know what the story is – that talent’s not going to leave just because he’s gone. It’s still there and he’s instilled a really good culture within the team and hopefully that will continue.”
In what could prove to be one of up to six matches that count down the end of Schmidt’s time as the head coach at Leinster, the eastern province head for Italy this weekend to take on a Zebre side still looking for their first ever win.
While Schmidt’s Leinster future may yet turn out to be longer than half a dozen games, the same cannot be said for Jonathan Sexton who is in line to make his first appearance for his province since the confirmation he would be moving on this summer.
Bumps and bruises
Ireland’s first choice out-half will be more even more conspicuous as Leinster are likely to rest many of the players who laid the foundation for victory over Wasps and Munster.
The latter encounter inflicted the most bumps and bruises. While Dave Kearney’s concussion drew most headlines, Gordon D’Arcy, Brian O’Driscoll, Sean O’Brien and Quinn Roux also received treatment. Kearney aside, the injuries are not considered serious enough to force them out of the trip to Parma. Fergus McFadden is also in the frame to start alongside Sexton.
The Italians, however, could be aided this week by what is expected to be a bolstered and emotional crowd at the Stadio Citta del Tricolore, a ground east of Parma with a capacity of 20,000 in Reggio Emilia.
The move away from the Stadio XXV Aprile is in an effort to raise funds in support of those affected by last year’s May 20 earthquake in the area when 26 people were killed.
Without Schmidt Leinster will still thrive, insists Dominic Ryan
LEINSTER’S EMERGING BACK-ROW Dominic Ryan was yesterday philosophical about Joe Schmidt’s potential departure for the role of Ireland head coach.
“If he goes, he goes and if he stays, he stays,” the 23-year-old said, adding:
“It’s a personal decision (for Schmidt). It’s one that will impact the team, but hopefully what he has done to date will really stand to us.”
The IRFU will meet the Kiwi in the next 36 hours to open a discussion around the post and while Ryan has had limited experience with other professional coaches, he knows the value of the man who delivered Leinster to back-to-back Heineken Cups.
“I only played three times under Michael Cheika, but I know from the senior players that when (Schmidt) came in, the value and techniques he brought in made a huge difference.”
Crucial
However, the flanker maintained that this successful Leinster group – beaten only by Clermont in two European seasons – was defined by the unit’s symbiotic relationship, not by its figurehead.
“He is a crucial part to our team, but the team isn’t just about the one man, or the one coach.
“If you look at all the players… I’m not going to say we couldn’t have got to where we are without him, but he couldn’t have got us to where we are without us. You know what I mean?
In what could prove to be one of up to six matches that count down the end of Schmidt’s time as the head coach at Leinster, the eastern province head for Italy this weekend to take on a Zebre side still looking for their first ever win.
While Schmidt’s Leinster future may yet turn out to be longer than half a dozen games, the same cannot be said for Jonathan Sexton who is in line to make his first appearance for his province since the confirmation he would be moving on this summer.
Bumps and bruises
Ireland’s first choice out-half will be more even more conspicuous as Leinster are likely to rest many of the players who laid the foundation for victory over Wasps and Munster.
The latter encounter inflicted the most bumps and bruises. While Dave Kearney’s concussion drew most headlines, Gordon D’Arcy, Brian O’Driscoll, Sean O’Brien and Quinn Roux also received treatment. Kearney aside, the injuries are not considered serious enough to force them out of the trip to Parma. Fergus McFadden is also in the frame to start alongside Sexton.
The Italians, however, could be aided this week by what is expected to be a bolstered and emotional crowd at the Stadio Citta del Tricolore, a ground east of Parma with a capacity of 20,000 in Reggio Emilia.
The move away from the Stadio XXV Aprile is in an effort to raise funds in support of those affected by last year’s May 20 earthquake in the area when 26 people were killed.
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