Joe Schmidt should be in the All Blacks coaching mix - McCaw

Former All Black captain Richie McCaw believes that New Zealand would be “silly” not to do everything they can to try and persuade Joe Schmidt to return home after next year’s World Cup.

Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning head coach is well respected in his native country, his inexperience in Super Rugby having lived overseas since 2007 should not be deterrents, according to the All Blacks legend.

“He’s been away for a while but there’s no doubt amongst the people who understand rugby that he has a very good way of looking at the game,” said McCaw.

“He’s quite innovative and looks at ways of pushing everyone to get better

“I think he’s probably quite an intense character but that drives a standard of excellence and that’s the view a lot of people have.

“I think everybody sits there hoping one day he’ll come back and put himself back in the mix in New Zealand and we get the benefit of all the experience he’s had at an international level, and obviously quite a few years successfully at club level as well.”

Current All Black coach Steve Hansen has not declared whether he will stay on after the showpiece next year and McCaw believes Schmidt should be in the mix. 

“From Ireland’s point of view, you want to try and lock him (Schmidt) in and from New Zealand’s point of view, if Steve doesn’t continue, they’re going to want all the options on the table,” 

“It will be hard for Joe because he wants to concentrate on doing a good job for the next 12 months but if he wants to put his name in the hat it will be pretty good to have a coach like that looking around.

“We’re pretty lucky that there are guys coaching Super Rugby at the moment that will put their name in the hat but they would be silly not to look at a Joe Schmidt or a Vern Cotter, guys that haven’t been coaching in New Zealand but are the right man for the job.”

Schmidt is set to make a decision on his future, beyond Ireland’s 2019 World Cup campaign, at the end of this month’s autumn series.

Full Story via:  irishexaminer