Joe Schmidt’s Return to Aviva Stadium and Enduring Influence on Irish Rugby

On Saturday, Joe Schmidt is set to appear as an opposing head coach at the Aviva Stadium for the first time. This occasion marks over five years since his period as Ireland’s head coach concluded, following a 2019 World Cup quarter-final loss to New Zealand, which brought to a close a significant era in the country’s rugby narrative. His Australia team will visit Dublin on Saturday to commemorate the Irish Rugby Football Union’s 150th anniversary, an event that will see the 59-year-old make his initial coaching comeback to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Known for his dislike of fanfare and anything that might divert attention from the game itself, the individual often regarded as Irish rugby’s most successful coach is anticipated to experience certain aspects of the week as challenging. The athlete most closely linked with his achievements at both Leinster and Ireland anticipates a considerable welcome on Saturday. Johnny Sexton stated, “Being with Joe, walking around Dublin, being in a coffee shop with him, every single person comes up and greets him warmly, says great things about him, and anyone who has ever met the guy says the same,” Sexton added, “With him, I think he’ll get an amazing reception when he walks into the Aviva and I think the Irish crowd will acknowledge him for all the things he achieved.” His record of accomplishments is indeed extensive. These include Ireland’s initial consecutive Six Nations titles since the 1948-49 season, a maiden Grand Slam achieved in a season that included matches in Paris and London, a first triumph on South African territory, a first series win in the southern hemisphere in 39 years, and, most notably, concluding the 111-year period without a victory against the All Blacks. Schmidt’s teams consistently surpassed previous limitations in Irish Rugby. Nevertheless, one objective they did not achieve was reaching a World Cup semi-final. During his initial attempt in 2015, an Ireland team severely affected by injuries suffered a significant defeat to Argentina in Cardiff during the quarter-final round. Four years later, Schmidt had already declared his plan to “finish coaching” prior to the tournament, and his formidable team showed signs of decline in a campaign that involved a pool stage loss to host nation Japan, followed by a decisive defeat against New Zealand in the quarter-finals. Considering the manner of its conclusion and the subsequent achievements of current head coach Andy Farrell, some individuals have since diminished Schmidt’s impact on Irish Rugby. Sexton remarked, “I think sometimes people, and when I say people, a lot of it is the media, they would change it in a certain way that focuses on the six months that didn’t go well rather than the eight years he gave to Leinster and Irish Rugby when he had remarkable success,” He continued, “I’d add [success] no other coach has really had. I’d hope that Andy goes on to achieve it but Joe won a Grand Slam, two championships, Heineken Cups, Amlin Cup, league titles, he won [before] with Clermont.” Sexton emphasized, “You’ve got to look at the facts when you’re talking about a person’s career.” He concluded, “That’s the greatest thing about winning. You always have opinion, and you’ve got to respect people’s opinion, but when you win, you can’t argue about that. No one can say you didn’t win what you did.” Schmidt served as part of the coaching staff for the All Blacks team that eliminated Ireland from the 2023 World Cup. Even following Schmidt’s departure in 2019, and subsequently after he assumed a role with the All Blacks for the 2023 World Cup, Sexton indicates that his former coach’s impact persisted, noting that he still heard “his voice going through” his head during what became the fly-half’s last professional match. “He was a massive influence on me through that middle part of my career. It stayed with me,” Sexton stated. He elaborated, “I played games and I had his voice in my head. Even when we’re playing New Zealand and he’s coaching them, I have his voice going through my head and that shows the legacy that he really leaves and the influence he had on me.” Sexton further commented, “I can also say that he laid the foundations and Andy would say the same. Andy worked with Joe for four years. He would have learned a lot, he’d acknowledge that himself. They remain great friends as well.”