DESPITE LAST SATURDAY’S defeat to Wales, Ireland fans remain hopeful that Joe Schmidt can guide the team to a Six Nations Championship this weekend and a successful World Cup campaign later this year.
However, former Scotland coach Jim Telfer doesn’t think that highly of Schmidt’s abilities as a coach, suggesting that the Ireland boss is over-rated.
Ahead of this weekend’s final Six Nations game between Scotland and Ireland in Edinburgh, Telfer told the Daily Record that the Scots are capable of finishing the tournament with a victory over Ireland.
Telfer, who coached Scotland to a Grand Slam in 1984, also believes that Schmidt was out-smarted by Wales coach Warren Gatland in Cardiff last weekend.
He said: “I think Joe Schmidt is a good coach but I think he’s sometimes… they think he’s a messiah because he’s won so much.
“Well, he looked pretty ordinary on Saturday. And on Saturday I think Gatland won the battle of the tactics.”
Telfer praised Ireland captain Paul O’Connell, as well as Jonathan Sexton and Tommy Bowe, but he doesn’t believe Scotland have anything to fear in Murrayfield.
“They (Ireland) are a reasonably good side, as they have been over the years,” Telfer added. “They’re not world-beaters.”
God bless him. Hiding being gay for years hiding the HIV also . The years and years of stress that he put himself under is sad. Always came across as a great genuine nice guy. Hope he has a long long life ahead of him still . I wish u well
@john s: did you read a different article to me? He said he has HIV, being gay was never mentioned but you assume he must be gay if he has hiv? Or did i miss something
@Karl Charlie: in fairness to John S (whoever he is) I didnt take you’re interpretation of what he’d written.
@Karl Charlie: he is gay that’s a fact do you not no who he is ?
@Karl Charlie: came out in 2009..
@Karl Charlie: in fairness to John S (whoever he is) I didn’t take your interpretation of what he’d written.
@bmul: i realised that after i googled it!! No idea who the lad is i dont follow uk sports teams
@Karl Charlie: classic example of contrived outrage….you go off on one not knowing who you are talking about….
Poor man. Seems to have been tormented all his life, both internally and externally. Medically, HIV has a different prognosis now. Socially, there’s still a stigma associated with it. Hats off to him. He’s a hell of a role model for anyone.
Best wishes to the man. He always came across as very genuine. A role model for anyone who has an interest in compassion and humanity.
We all worry about what People think, wasting our energy away, Gareth is a Wonderful Human Being, an inspiration to us all. Please God he will live many Happy years with this condition.
@tennis nut: why would his HIV status have anything to do with his rugby? I have a feeling you may need to educate yourself further if you think it does
@Vocal Outrage: because there is potential for blood contamination
@tennis nut: I’ll tell you who isn’t inspirational. A small minded bigot who doesn’t have the balls to to step out from the veil if anomomity.
@tennis nut: It’s because of judgemental people like you that causes the fear in others not to come out and say who or what they are. Watch the interview with Nigel Owens and it may help you understand where these people are and the horror they feel in having to ‘come out ‘. It may even educate you an g o d knows it seems like you need it.
@thomas patrick: You might need to educate yourself. Nowadays, if he is taking his treatment as prescribed, the virus reaches undetectable levels and is virtually untransmittable. The only recorded cases of transmission, a small number anyway, have been when patients were taking their treatment irregularly.
What’s shameful is the fact that society made it so hard for him to be who he is. Life with HIV is not what it was decades ago. Wishing him all the best. Brave man.
@Laura Mulcahy: how did society make it hard for him ? I think you ll find that when people come out they quickly find the opposite.
Wow unreal best of luck to him
@Louise Lennon: Is it Sunday?
@Darren: why does everyone automatically think he’s gay because of hiv?
@Louise Lennon: because he came out as gay years ago!!!!!!
@Louise Lennon: because he’s gay?
@Louise Lennon: The whole coming out thing made it pretty obvious Louise.
@vfagan: gay or not gay hiv is real!!
@Louise Lennon: take the shame and be out :)
@Louise Lennon: take the shame and BOW out I meant:( ;)
@Louise Lennon: stop digging Louise.