Joe Schmidt (rugby union)

Joe Schmidt
Full name Josef Schmidt
Date of birth 12 September 1965
Place of birth Woodville,New Zealand
Rugby union career
Coaching career
Years Club / team
2003-2004
2004-2007
2007-2010
2010-2013
2013-		 Bay of Plenty (asst. coach)
Blues (asst. coach)
Clermont (asst. coach)
Leinster
Ireland
Rugby union career

Josef 'Joe' Schmidt is a New Zealand rugby union coach, who is currently head coach of the Irish rugby team.[1] Schmidt's first head coaching role in Europe was with Leinster Rugby beginning in 2010. He brought unprecedented success to the province, reaching 6 finals and winning 4 trophies during his 3-year reign. He was previously an assistant with the Blues in his native New Zealand and Clermont Auvergne of France.

Career

After training as a school teacher, Schmidt played rugby in New Zealand before playing amateur rugby in the Irish lower leagues during the 1990s.[2] He then returned to New Zealand to take up the position of a head teacher.

Schmidt took up the option to coach New Zealand Schools, before leaving teaching on a full-time basis to coach Bay of Plenty from 2003–2004. While at the Steamers he won the Ranfurly Shield defeating Auckland on August 15, 2004. The Steamers had one successful defence of the title before losing to Canterbury. Schmidt joined the Blues as assistant coach from 2004–2007 where, in his final year, they were knocked out in the semi-final.

Clermont Auvergne

Schmidt moved to Europe and joined Clermont Auvergne in 2007 as backs coach under Vern Cotter who he had previously worked with in Auckland. The side finished Top 14 runners-up twice in 2008 & 2009. In 2010 the side finally won the competition, after 11 appearances in the final.

Leinster

Schmidt took over as Leinster Rugby head coach for the 2010–11 season, taking over from Michael Cheika.[3] Under his leadership Leinster won the 2011 Heineken Cup[4] and lost to Munster in the Magners League Grand Final in 2011. In the 2011-2012 season, he coached Leinster a second Pro 12 final and to the 2012 Heineken Cup Final where they beat Ulster 42 - 14.[5] In his final year in charge, he coached Leinster to winning the Amlin Challenge Cup and Pro 12 titles.

Ireland

On 29 April 2013, it was announced by the IRFU that Schmidt would leave his position as Leinster coach to take over the Ireland coaching position left vacant by Declan Kidney. Schmidt's three-year deal runs until the end of the 2015-16 season.[1][2][6][7][8] His first game in charge of Ireland was in the end of year tests against Samoa on 9 November 2013.[9][10] On 24 November, Ireland had a 19-0 lead against New Zealand but went on to lose by 24-22 after Aaron Cruden scored an overtime conversion for New Zealand.[11] On 15 March 2014, Schmidt's Ireland side defeated France in Paris by 2 points to lift the 2014 Six Nations Championship, his first silverware with the nation. In November 2014 in the end-of-year rugby union internationals, Ireland defeated South Africa, Georgia and Australia to move to third in the World Rugby Rankings.[12][13] In December 2014, Schmidt was named as the Philips Sports Manager of the Year for 2014.[14] Schmidt was also named as the manager of the Year at the 2014 RTE Sports awards on 21 December.[15] On 1 March 2015, Ireland won their tenth test match in a row after a 19-9 win against England in the 2015 Six Nations Championship, equalling an Irish record set in 2003.[16][17] That run came to an end in the next match on 15 March when Ireland lost by 23 points to 16 against Wales in Millennium Stadium, a defeat that ended Ireland's hopes of winning the Grand Slam.[18] On 21 March 2015, Ireland recorded a 40-10 victory against Scotland, which was enough to win the 2015 Six Nations Championship for the second year in a row.[19][20]

Coaching approach

Schmidt is known for analysing opposition closely to expose pressure points, for short, sharp training sessions, and for simple game strategies based on pressure, territory, intelligent defence with aggressive line speed, and rehearsed attacking plays. He also sometimes limits offloading if he feels his side will not win the collisions.[21][22]

Honours

Bay of Plenty (as assistant coach)

Clermont Auvergne (as assistant coach)

Leinster

Ireland

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Joe Schmidt appointed as Ireland rugby coach". RTE News. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Padraic Halpin (29 April 2013). "Kiwi Schmidt named new Ireland coach". Stuff.co.nz/Reuters. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Schmidt to take over at Leinster". BBC News. 28 December 2009.
  4. ↑ "Heineken Cup: Leinster 33-22 Northampton". RTÉ Sport. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  5. ↑ "Heineken Cup Final: Leinster beat Ulster to retain trophy". BBC News. 19 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Leinster's Joe Schmidt is appointed new Ireland coach". BBC News. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "Schmidt the right man in right place at the right time". Irish Independent. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "Leinster's Joe Schmidt is appointed new Ireland coach". BBC Sport. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "Schmidt names three fresh faces in squad". ESPN. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Schmidt leaves three Lions out for Samoa as O'Connell confirmed as captain". Irish Independent. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  11. ↑ "Heroic Ireland denied at the death". Irish Examiner. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  12. ↑ "Ireland beat Australia to complete Test clean sweep". Irish Independent. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  13. ↑ "Five things we learned from Ireland's victorious Autumn Series". Irish Independent. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  14. ↑ "Joe Schmidt wins Philips Manager of the Year award". The Score. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  15. ↑ "Rory McIlroy crowned the RTE Sport Sports Person of the Year as BOD enters Hall of Fame". Irish Independent. 21 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "Ireland 19-9 England: Stuart Lancaster's side see their Six Nations hopes derailed with deserved defeat in Dublin". Daily Mail. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "Brilliant Ireland set World Cup benchmark". Irish Independent. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  18. ↑ "Wales end Ireland’s grand slam chances with Scott Williams try". Guardian. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "Determined Ireland batter Scots". ESPN. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "Ireland hammer Scotland and retain their title after a nervous wait". Guardian. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  21. ↑ http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/wales-v-south-africa-what-8196724
  22. ↑ http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/joe-schmidt-hailed-as-best-coach-in-world-rugby-after-irelands-win-over-australia/story-e6frf55l-1227132965513?nk=d51126ca85738af4f79cf9bd873c57bd

External links

Preceded by
Australia Les Kiss		 Irish national rugby coach
2013-present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Michael Cheika		 Leinster Rugby coach
2010-2013 		Succeeded by
Matt O'Connor