It was confirmed on Friday morning that Joe Schmidt will be Eddie Jones' successor as Australia head coach.
The former Leinster and Ireland coach was first linked with the job in early December, and fresh reports on Thursday morning suggested that Schmidt was on the verge of securing the job.
It is the New Zealander's first foray into a head coach's role since stepping aside as Ireland boss after the disappointment of the 2019 World Cup - and has set up the tantalising prospect of him coming up against his former assistant Andy Farrell next summer.
Farrell will take command of the British and Irish Lions on their 2025 tour of Australia, reuniting the pair for the second time since Schmidt left his role with Ireland.
Schmidt was part of New Zealand's coaching team at last year's World Cup and was widely credited with having played a major role in dismantling Farrell's Ireland team.
14 October 2023; New Zealand assistant coach Joe Schmidt, left, and Ireland head coach Andy Farrell before the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Speaking to Balls.ie this week to launch Virgin Media's Six Nations coverage, ex-Munster and Ireland back row Alan Quinlan said that he was excited by the potential matchup of Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell next summer - and joked that he would have revoked Schmidt's Irish citizenship after last year's World Cup quarter-final:
It doesn’t surprise me that Australia went after Joe. I think his record with Ireland and Leinster was incredibly impressive. Players, particularly in Ireland, rated him so highly through that very successful period when he coached Leinster and Ireland.
He got involved with the All Blacks for a period of time, but there’s obviously been changes there with Scott Robertson and what’s gone on there...I’m really intrigued to see him back as a head coach again.
I think his diligence and attention to detail was something that so many players that I spoke to over the years who were coached by him loved. He has a big job if he takes the role with Australia. They’ve a lot of structural issues and challenges going on there.
It’s a great opportunity for him as well, and I’m glad to see him back in the game.
Obviously the intrigue of him coaching Australia and Andy Farrell coaching the Lions team…if that matchup happens, it will be really intriguing. There was a matchup already at the World Cup, with Joe being involved with New Zealand.
If I had a choice, I would have revoked Joe’s citizenship after that! His stamp and footprint was all over that win against Ireland at the World Cup. But I’d be really pleased to see him back involved at the top level.
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"I would've revoked his citizenship!" - Alan Quinlan on Andy Farrell v Joe Schmidt
Farrell will be absent from next year's Six Nations in preparation for his role as Lions head coach, but there is a big 2024 ahead for his Ireland team, and he named his squad for this year's tournament on Wednesday afternoon.
18 January 2024; In attendance at Virgin Media Park in Cork ahead of VMTV's coverage of the 2024 Six Nations, is Virgin Media Television analyst Alan Quinlan. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Alan Quinlan expressed surprise to Balls and the Irish media this week that Farrell had opted for a smaller squad than last year's (34 as opposed to 2023's 38), and echoed Brian O'Driscoll in lamenting the absence of John Hodnett in particular:
Could Andy have extended the squad by an extra couple of players and maybe included John Hodnett, Cian Prendergast, Shane Daly, James Hume, a couple of players on the fringes who were unlucky not to be in the mix...I think it's a testament to the quality that's there.
There is probably a need to make changes in other countries but if you look at this Irish squad, there are definitely a few players who are unlucky. John Hodnett has been outstanding for Munster, It hasn't just been a flash in the pan and a couple of good performances. Last year in that run to the URC final he was incredible. In a recent bad run with Munster he has stood out and is doing exactly what you want from an openside, he is making countless tackles carried and pressing the breakdown. I think his game has improved immeasurably and he is unlucky.
The scenario here is he is unlucky because there are incredibly good players ahead of him.
The months since October's heartbreaking last eight exit at the World Cup have seen much musing on how Andy Farrell will approach the next tournament cycle - especially as it will be split in half by his sabbatical to take charge of the Lions.
Quinlan was keen to emphasise that this Ireland squad is still one of the very finest in the world, regardless of the outcome of the World Cup - and that Farrell should see this year's tests as an opportunity for evolution rather than revolution:
When you look at it it's a very strong squad. I think the natural process of change, evolution and trying to get younger players into the squad will probably start, you may see some of it during the Six Nations, may see a few more players come in and out, you are not restricted by it, [the tour of] South Africa then, and [the] November [internationals].
I don't think there's a need to make a raft of changes. I think it would be some consolation if Ireland were to challenge and maybe win a Championship here after the World Cup and remind people that this is still a very good squad.
Ireland get their Six Nations campaign underway on Friday, February 2nd against France in Marseille - a mouthwatering prospect, especially with the added motivation both countries will have gotten from their World Cup disappointment.
Quinlan says that the scene he witnessed in Paris the weekend of Ireland and France's respective exits to New Zealand and South Africa was one of "utter devastation," and that both teams will have added fire ahead of the opening fixture of this year's Six Nations.
The beginning of a new era for Ireland is that enticing clash against France in just two weeks - one that Alan Quinlan feels if the perfect opportunity for Andy Farrell to get Ireland "back on track," and one that will be live on Virgin Media.
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