Schmidt-factor to aid All Blacks in World Cup clash with Ireland?

Ian Foster is thankful that New Zealand have the inside knowledge of former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final in Paris.

Schmidt’s Ireland suffered a heavy quarter-final defeat to New Zealand – then coached by Steve Hansen – four years ago at the previous World Cup in Japan.

After completing his duties with Ireland in 2019, Schmidt took a sabbatical from coaching, but has been involved in

‘Refining how we play’

Foster’s All Blacks setup for the past two years, taking on a permanent role as attack coach in 2022.

On Saturday, Schmidt will be aiding New Zealand as they look for a repeat of 2019 against Andy Farrell’s high-flying Ireland.

“His (Schmidt’s) mindset is, as is mine, about what we do well and making sure we nail that,” All Blacks head coach Foster said.

“It’s not so much a matter of micro-analysing them to the nth degree that we get hung up and dampen our own game a little bit.

“He knows the Irish well but that’s information that we’ve been tapping in to the last 12 months, and getting his nous in and refining how we play.”

‘This is their moment’

World number one Ireland have won three of their last four matches against the All Blacks and claimed a historic series victory in New Zealand in July 2022.

That run of form has come after the All Blacks went undefeated in this fixture for 111 years, until Ireland’s sensational victory in Chicago in 2106.

“They’ve got a group of players, this is probably their moment,” Foster added. “If they’re ever going to win a World Cup, they will probably feel like it’s now.”

This story first appeared on sarugbymag.co.za. It is republished here with permission. For the original story click here.