Farrell offers Ireland 'continuation' after Schmidt reign, says O'Driscoll

Andy Farrell will replace Joe Schmidt as Ireland head coach after the Rugby World Cup and Brian O'Driscoll has backed the call.

 

 

 

Brian O'Driscoll has backed Ireland's decision to appoint Andy Farrell as successor to head coach Joe Schmidt and says next year represents a golden opportunity to win the Rugby World Cup for the first time. 

Schmidt announced on Monday that he is to stand down following the tournament in Japan, with defence coach Farrell stepping into the top job. 

The Kiwi guided Ireland to the Grand Slam earlier this year and has also overseen the only two wins over New Zealand in the team's history. 

O'Driscoll was not surprised at Schmidt's decision considering he has been in the post since 2013. 

"My gut was that he would have announced it at the start of November if he had been staying on, to inject some positivity into the squad for that series," HSBC global rugby sevens ambassador O'Driscoll told Omnisport. 

"He probably feels that five years is a long enough time as head coach of any team, and he would have probably needed to do another cycle, which is another four years, and that was too long. 

"He wanted some time away from the game. He's been full on, he only goes at 100 miles an hour, so for him to go full on for at least eight years in Ireland – with Leinster and Ireland – maybe he just needs to pull the handbrake up a bit and look after himself and his family."