'We all know who the favourites are for the Rugby World Cup, and it's not us'
Joe Schmidt has brushed off Ireland topping the world rankings for the first time as irrelevant to the World Cup.
Ireland climbed to the summit of World Rugby’s rankings for the first time in Schmidt’s final match as head coach in Dublin, the hosts seeing off Wales 19-10.
Schmidt inherited an Ireland side languishing eighth in the world in 2013 and has turned them into a northern hemisphere powerhouse, and the Kiwi coach enjoyed an emotional last hurrah at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The 53-year-old insisted afterwards, however, that back-to-back defending champions New Zealand remain the team to beat at the World Cup.
“I didn’t even realise we were number one until the post-match interview,” said Schmidt.
“That’s how far away from our thoughts it’s been. It’s a label, it’s a nice label to get, and it’s a nice first time that we’ve been in that position.
“We have been lucky enough to tick off a few firsts with this group in the last six and a half years. But that label is not going to be relevant to anyone.
“We all know who the favourites are for the Rugby World Cup, and it’s not us.”
It's a very good goodbye from Joe Schmidt as he signs off from matches in Dublin with Ireland's win over Wales adding to his impressive fortress win ratiohttps://t.co/S6H379Jsev
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 7, 2019
Ireland’s stunning 16-9 win over New Zealand in November, their first over the All Blacks in Dublin, has proved central to their ascent to the top of the globe’s standings.
Schmidt oversaw their maiden victory over the All Blacks too, the 40-29 triumph in Chicago in 2016, ending a 111-year wait for a win over the much-vaunted Kiwis.
The Aviva Stadium offered lasting and rapturous appreciation to both Schmidt and captain Rory Best, who will hang up his boots after the World Cup and will too not turn out in Dublin again.
New Zealand boss Steve Hansen met Ireland’s win over the All Blacks in November by installing Schmidt’s men as the world’s best team – and immediately challenged the Irish to cope with the associated pressure.
Ireland slumped from their 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam to a third-place finish this term and were thumped in a record 57-15 defeat by England at Twickenham earlier this month.
Saturday’s morale-boosting win and performance against Wales resurrects hopes that Ireland can pass the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in Japan though, with the squad jetting out on Wednesday.
Asked if it suits New Zealand to shift the pressure elsewhere with Ireland sitting at the top of the rankings, Schmidt said: “Yeah, again, knowing Steve (Hansen) and Ian Foster and their coaching staff and some of the players well, for them, it’s far from their minds.
“They are very process-focused, the All Blacks. For them it is about getting out, making the ball work and working hard for each other.
“And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, they do a pretty good job of it! And we’d acknowledge the quality that they bring to World Rugby.”
Best’s captaincy came under fire in the wake of that hefty Twickenham reverse, but Schmidt has kept faith with the evergreen 37-year-old.
And the Ulster stalwart delivered a classic performance in Saturday’s victory.
Tearfully charting his 14 years in the Test arena at the end of his final turn in Dublin, Best said: “It seems a long time ago since I came off the bench and came down into the corner for a scrum alongside my brother (Simon).
“Those are the things that you remember, the little bits and pieces, the trips to the stadium on the bus, the moments after the game when you are looking around the dressing room and everyone is wrecked and you have given it all for this jersey.
“These moments are made special by your team, your family and by so many people.
“Today was really, really important for us as a team to make sure that we took a step forward from last week. We know we have a long, long way to go.
“It was a very efficient performance against a quality side. It would be very remiss of me not to mention a coach that came into Ireland a good few years ago with Leinster; with Ireland he has transformed the international game here.
“I have been very privileged to work with him both as a player and a captain. I can’t be grateful enough for everything that Joe Schmidt has done for me as a player, the team and the country.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Interesting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to comments