It's just the damn French stirring things but nonetheless, we still needed to hear him say it. Reports in Midi Olympique this week suggested that the RFU had earmarked the Ireland boss as the perfect man to take the England reigns if/when they decided to dispense with the services of Stuart Lancaster.
It's a scurrilous rumour that we wouldn't even want to entertain, but it was inevitable that Schmidt would be asked about it at today's press conference. And sure enough, after naming the team, Schmidt addressed the rumours with his usual sense of calm.
I don't know where that's come from. I'm a fan of Stuart Lancaster and what he's trying to build there.
If we had lost last weekend, it could be someone else being propositioned for my job. Unfortunately, it is one of the things about coaching but I think Stuart is a first-class character.
If anything, the Ireland boss seemed a bit embarrassed to be answering the question and just in case Ireland fans had any doubts about his commitment, he summed things up fairly emphatically.
I certainly won't be going after his job.
Splendid, we'll put that horrible thought to bed then.
