Joe Schmidt’s Irish departure would leave Lions with interesting dilemma

Back unto the breach again for Warren Gatland?

Joe Schmidt is expected to announce his decision on remaining on with Ireland, or leaving after the 2019 World Cup, on Monday. Schmidt has been in Ireland since 2010 - delivering a clatter of trophies for Leinster and the national team - but most rugby reporters and pundits feel he will return to New Zealand after the World Cup. Former Ireland captain Paul O'Connell has suggested the IRFU should make it financially impractical for Schmidt to leave his post with Ireland at the end of next year. The Kiwi has delivered three Six Nations titles, a series win in Australia and defeated New Zealand twice in his five years in charge of Ireland. He has most definitely left Ireland, and Irish rugby, in a stronger position than when he took over from Declan Kidney - another Grand Slam-winning coach - in 2013. An interesting quirk should also crop up if Schmidt confirms his departure from these shores. The Ireland coach was heavy favourite to coach the British & Irish Lions if he stuck around after the World Cup. Should he jet back to New Zealand, it would leave the Lions choosing between his successor at Ireland (Andy Farrell tipped to take over) Scotland's Gregor Townsend or Wales' in-coming head coach Wayne Pivac. Eddie Jones is contracted with the English RFU up until 2021 but may prove a divisive choice. Most likely, the World Cup will throw up a new favourite to be Lions head coach. Were Farrell to become Ireland boss, one could not imagine the IRFU would be happy with freeing him up for the role from late 2020 until the tour concludes in July 2021. Outside shouts could be Gatland doing a third tour of Lions coaching duty or the Leinster dream-team of Stuart Lancaster and Leo Cullen getting the job. As for what players would make a Lions starting XV were they to play South Africa tomorrow, these are the type of debates that get people talking but will never be proved right. The best type of debate, so. Mick Cleary of The Telegraph was asked by a rugby fan, on Sunday morning, how many England players would make a Lions XV right now. He can up with six definites and two more to mull over. https://twitter.com/MickClearyTel/status/1066661870977916928 While selecting Ben Youngs over Conor Murray would be a stretch, to us and many others, most replies centred on him calling Tadhg Furlong versus Kyle Sinckler for the No.3 jersey 'a toughie'. https://twitter.com/jbclaims/status/1066662704511885312 https://twitter.com/ChrisieOC/status/1066663760289505281 https://twitter.com/richscott42/status/1066713268704694273 Long may these specious debates continue!