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The blockade may be allowing people unexpected time for reflection and a reevaluation of their hopes and goals, and Joe Schmidt sounded like a man who does exactly that when he spoke at the RTÉ 2FM Game on Thursday night.
The former Ireland coach’s six-and-a-half-year reign came to an end when his native New Zealand eliminated his positions 46-14 in last year’s World Cup quarterfinal stages in Japan.
Getting away from the limelight and returning to the supporter role may have required some adjustment, and it’s one that comes with both pros and cons.
“I really enjoyed the Ireland v Wales game on the Aviva,” Schmidt told listeners of his trip to see Ireland at their second meeting of the 2020 Six Nations.
“I go as a fanatic, like everyone else.
“I was with Stuart Lancaster in the game. He and Leo (Cullen) have done a great job with Leinster.
“It was great to accompany and support the team, and cheer on what were a couple of great tries and a bonus point victory.”
“I have enjoyed and still enjoy being a fan of rugby.
“I don’t miss the pressure, as I didn’t really enjoy the pressure in those circumstances of the day.”
“Invariably, adrenaline is a little bit addictive and you end up missing it.”
“It is a small paradox.”
When asked if his analytical eye was as attentive as ever when evaluating performance, Schmidt said, “I was trying not to, intentionally trying not to.”
“I was just trying to enjoy the occasion.”
However, the 54-year-old was not simply an interested spectator, with a stay at Clermont Auvergne already under his belt this season.
“I was helping the coaches like a soundboard and it was nice to be involved again on the fringes of the rugby club environment,” he revealed.
“I didn’t do it right away, but I didn’t do it again either.”
Kiwi remains highly coveted, with a diary full of international commitments to prove it, although the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has ended earlier plans, not that Schmidt is complaining.
“I really want to have less of a global presence, and I enjoyed my time at home, dining with the family and prioritizing,” he said.
“So it really didn’t affect me too much.
“I miss sports.
“I think we have excellent people working in rugby in Ireland, so I have missed working with those people day by day and certainly tournament by tournament.”
“I knew that would be the case when I walked away.
“I am reasonably accepting of that and happy with what I am doing right now, which is not much!”
As the sport emerges from its forced latency period, Schmidt foresees serious implications for international competitions due to travel restrictions.
“In the short term, I can’t see that it doesn’t have a big impact,” he said.
“The teams will potentially stop their own competition.
“I think it is very difficult for us to do here, just with the four professional teams.”
“So we played Pro12 as it was, and then Pro14.
“But with the most external teams you have, and a lot of rugby in Italy is played in northern Italy, where the epicenter of the European virus started, I think there will obviously be concerns about opening borders, and those games and that mobility from people, not just from players but from supporters, I think there will be doubts until the virus is under control. “
Schmidt also gave his opinion on the proposed changes promoted by French Rugby President Bernard Laporte, including a 20-team Club World Cup and a 12-team International Nations Championship.
“There is no better time for some changes to occur, but it is very difficult to make changes with a relatively disparate group,” Schmidt said.
“Everyone is going to protect their parish patch.
“One of the things here is that the Six Nations are second to none when it comes to a rugby tournament.”
“For that to be overcome, that was one of the major pitfalls in trying to launch a global international competition.”
“If they could do it in the club sense, I know teams like Leinster would love to end up playing the Crusaders, for example, if they were the Super Rugby champions.”
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