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Joe Schmidt details how he became an 'accidental coach'

By Online Editors
Joe Schmidt (L) and Rory Best (R). Photo / Getty Images

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has detailed how he “accidentally” became one of world rugby’s best coaches in an interview with the New Zealand Herald.

Schmidt revealed that his first intention as a coach was on the hardwood, not the rugby field.

“I’m an incredibly accidental coach,” Schmidt said. “I’d been playing a bit of basketball as a point guard – I’m not the biggest man.

“When I first started [teaching] at Palmerston North Boys’ High I got told by Dave Sims, the director, that I needed to be involved in the co-curricular life of the school and I said ‘I’d love to coach basketball’.

“He said ‘that’s brilliant, that’s on Friday nights it won’t affect your rugby coaching on Saturday mornings’.

“At the time I was playing on the wing for Manawatu and it kind of went from there.

“I played rugby from the time I was four-years-old so it’s not I don’t love the game but it wasn’t an intended career. I have a few priorities that reshaped the thinking a little bit.”

Schmidt is grateful for his time in rugby, but is often quick to deflect praise he receives for transforming Ireland into the juggernaut it is today.

“I’ve had an unbelievable time in the game whether it be with Bay of Plenty and the Ranfurly Shield or even when we finished up at the Blues with the last semifinal which I thought was a really good step,” he said.

“You’ve got to run out of luck at some stage. I felt we did a bit in 2015 at the World Cup so that’s something that’s probably a good time to finish on – post that I’ll have had two shots at trying to get guys ready for that and then finish up from there.”

Schmidt announced last year that he will step away from Ireland after their 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign, and he will take a break from coaching indefinitely. He has helmed Ireland since 2013.

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Bull Shark 7 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically. I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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