Former Leinster and Ireland international Victor Costello has told SportsJOE the IRFU should sign up head coach Joe Schmidt to a contract extension that takes up up to the 2019 World Cup.
Costello, who played 39 caps for Ireland between 1996 and 2004, believes the former Leinster coach has already laid the foundations for a serious tilt at next year’s tournament. If Ireland achieve a best-ever World Cup performance – getting beyond the quarter-finals – Costello believes Schmidt may be tempted back to the southern hemisphere, namely his native New Zealand.
‘I look at the World Cup as a trade show. Ireland have often moved, in the past, to tie up coaches long-term (Eddie O’Sullivan, Declan Kidney) only to regret it when results turn. That may prevent them from moving on Schmidt but it shouldn’t,’ said Costello.
‘Joe came up with a game-plan to absorb the best South Africa could throw at us and yet finish with enough ambition and energy to finish the job. Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton, Rhys Ruddock all played great. Paul O’Connell and Tommy Bowe too.’
Costello adds, ‘You and I will get excited if they win three from three this November – and it is now looking possible – but Joe will not be swayed from the direction he has set this team out on. He has not allowed injuries to sway his plans but, saying that, has been fortunate that players such as Dave Kilcoyne and Dominic Ryan performing for their provinces.
‘There are a lot of form players in the November squad and Schmidt is close to having three players for every position. Look at the front row – Cian Healy, Jack McGrath and Kilcoyne. Consistency is everything for Schmidt. He is all about producing a squad of 30 players at the highest, highest level. Jared Payne and Robbie Henshaw can sit in the stands this weekend, knowing they performed and seeing if the other lads in the centre can put their hands up.’
Costello continues, ‘Michael Cheika (with Australia) will counteract whatever tactics Ireland used against South Africa but expect Schmidt to counteract that again. He has a game-plan for every team Ireland will play for the next six months. The players fit into that game-plan, not the other way around. In years past we often tailored our game-plan to suit the likes of Drico, ROG or Sexton.’
Winning all three November Tests, allied to the Six Nations triumph, may well lead to World Cup-winning predictions in some quarters. The precedent stems from Ireland winning a Triple Crown in 2006 and claiming all their November matches only to implode at the 2007 World Cup. Costello dismisses the link and claims that a winning run is the best way to enter a tournament.
England beat Australia and New Zealand in their November Tests, in 2002, then won a Grand Slam. They beat the lard out of teams at the World Cup and got through to the final where Jonny Wilkinson won the cup with that extra-time drop goal. That was no fluke. That script was written before they left for Australia. France could very well put out a third team in next year’s Six Nations as they don’t give a shite. England will stay regimented. Ireland have every chance of winning another Six Nations – even a Grand Slam – but it will still not sway Joe from his grand vision.
Costello has singled out an area of concern in the Irish team. ‘The lineout is a serious chink in our armour. We had four crooked throws against South Africa and it is something Georgia and Michael Cheika will target. Rory Best may be back for next week but the real questions lie with Sean Cronin and Richardt Strauss. Thankfully, there is time to work on these issues.’
Costello played Georgia in 1998 and scored one of Ireland’s 10 tries in a 70-0 win – Eric Elwood was 100 per cent with his conversions. ‘Times have not changed too much since we played them. They have a beefy pack and most of their plays will go through them.’
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