JOE SCHMIDT HAS today reiterated his promise to stick with Leinster, at least as long as his current contract lasts.
Last week, reports from New Zealand had pinned the Leinsster boss as an ideal replacement for Pat Lam at the Auckland Blues.
With the Heineken Cup afoot, Schmidt was understandably slow to discuss any such matters.
But in the wake of the province’s third title, the rumours would not stop.
Schmidt admitted that home will always be a draw, but also pointed out the fringe benefits of life in Ireland.
“I just don’t plan very well,” Schmidt said with a bemused smile, “I think week to week, I’m not too bad, I work pretty hard. But really, whatever happens, happens.
“I’ve got to say this is a fantastic group to work with. I thoroughly enjoy what I’m doing. There is the pull factor of family at home, but when the weather’s like this it’s pretty hard to give up Ireland – both days of it.”
The Heineken Cup champions go into their third consecutive league final on Sunday targeting a double. They must do so without Sean O’Brien, the man of the match in Twickenham who underwent minor knee surgery in order to be ready for Ireland’s tour to New Zealand.
“Sean O’Brien had, pretty much, the same procedure as Brian O’Driscoll.” Said Schmidt, adding: “There were discussions between ourselves and the Irish management. It was felt that it was best for Sean to get that done now to be right for the tour, to allow him to be fit by the time the first test comes around in Auckalnd.”
Cian Healy is the other major injury doubt after sustaining a thigh injury in training on Wednesday. Schmidt said: ”It’s certainly restricted his ability to train. He’s another guy who we’re just no prepared to put at risk.”
The loose head has been named on the bench, but Jack McGrath has also been pencilled in should Healy be deemed unfit at an assessment tomorrow morning.
Despite those two injuries, Schmidt feels that the biggest challenge is to prepare his team for ‘war’ mentally rather than physically after the joy and elation of Saturday comes one last difficult push.
Crescendo
“The biggest challenge is just to refresh everybody.” Says the Kiwi, who will look forward to watching rugby from afar when he takes his holiday next week.
“When you build to such a big game it’s not just the game itself, it’s the momentum you gather leading up to it. It’s almost like a crescendo. you hit that and drop back down again.
“So we took a bit of time at the beginning of the week to build some momentum again and tried just to be really sharp today, that was the only really intense bit of training that we’ve done (this week) and you hope with that intensity you can gather momentum a second time.
“Emotionally, it’s hard to get to the same level again. Particularly for players who paraded the trophy around Twickenham last weekend. That’s the peak and to drop off is a natural thing. It’s all about getting everybody back over the next two days.”
