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22nd March 2018
08:51am GMT

“Kiwis, we love to claim people from New Zealand, especially when they’re successful, so we’re well aware of him being a New Zealander,” said Smith.
While it's uncomfortable for Ireland fans to hear that Schmidt is in the frame for the All Blacks job so soon after the Grand Slam, it was always certain to happen. https://twitter.com/ultimaterugby/status/976518815562567680 Smith will hang up his boots at the end of the season.The 36-year-old retired from international rugby in 2015 but has been with Top 14 club Pau. Considered one of the All Blacks' finest, he earned 94 caps and won the World Cup in 2011 and 2015. As the centre considers his own move into coaching, he admits he has been thoroughly impressed with Ireland, not just during the Six Nations, but over the course of the last four years. "I think they are clearly the second best side in the world and will challenge for that top spot.“And it’s helped by the fact our previous coaches have worked overseas - Graham Henry, Steve Hansen. He (Schmidt) is well within the talks. He’s doing a great job with Ireland. He’s someone who could potentially come back and coach the All Blacks.
“All coaches have their attributes, but you get my point, he’s a very good technical understanding of the game, and can transfer that to players, which is a very big challenge. It’s all very well having the knowledge but he can get players to buy into what he sees and to understand his take on the game. That’s how you get good results.
"I just think they’re a team that’s been playing well for a long period. They got exceptional results in the last couple of months, but in the last two or three years they’ve been playing well. "For me, Ireland have been consistently good in the last three or four years. It will add real spice to the games in November and the World Cup. You should be really pleased and confident with the way they’re going."
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