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Joe Schmidt and Brian O'Driscoll at a Leinster training session. ©INPHO/James Crombie
all about joe

O'Driscoll gives ringing endorsement to Schmidt ahead of IRFU decision

The centre has also backed the appointment of former Ireland teammate Keith Wood as part of the coaching interview panel.

FORMER IRELAND CAPTAIN Brian O’Driscoll has lauded Joe Schmidt, his coach at Leinster, ahead of the IRFU’s announcement about the country’s next head coach later this week.

The outside centre, Ireland’s record try scorer, is yet to make a call on his provincial and international future. However, he may play on for at least one more year if the coach that he credits for reviving his career replaces Declan Kidney as Ireland chief.

Asked if the union going with Schmidt as head coach would delay any retirement thoughts, O’Driscoll commented, “We’ll wait for that decision to be made this week before I start commenting properly on that.”

He told TheScore.ie, “There’s no secret about how much I admire Joe as a coach.

He has been fantastic for us these last few years and really rejuvenated me as a player. I learned an awful lot under his tutelage. We’ll wait and see, nationally, what the decision is and makes calls over the next couple of months.”

O’Driscoll talks to TheScore.ie at Rosemount, UCD this afternoon. (©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

Yesterday, we exclusively revealed that former Ireland hooker, and captain, Keith Wood was part of the union’s panel currently interviewing shortlisted candidates for the national post. O’Driscoll is encouraged by the presence of his former teammate in the decision-making process.

“The thing that I like about Keith,” he said, “is that he’s very pro-Ireland. Any time you see him, he’s got a huge passion for Ireland doing well.

I speak to him a bit, now and then, after games and we talk through things. He’s not out of the game long but he’s very knowledgeable. He understands the game, even though he has been out of it for 10 years, he understands the nuances and how it has changed to date. He’s a good guy to have on the board from a rugby point of view.”

While his own future at Leinster is not likely to be confirmed until after the Lions tour to Australia, O’Driscoll is pleased that his province has secured the signature of versatile South African back Zane Kirchner.

O’Driscoll said, “Isa going a year early is going to be a huge loss and though it is not quite like-for-like there’s a lot of talent [arriving] with Zane. I couldn’t believe when I heard he was 28. He seems to have been around a long time. He’s a very nice footballer and can play in any of the back three positions.

“I’ve played against him a few times, internationally, at 13 and he’s a handful. He’ll be a fantastic addition to the squad.”

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