• Head coach unfazed by Agustín Pichot criticism of selection• ‘Pichot has big opinions, but they are not relevant’Lost in the din over the inclusion of the newly-qualified second row Jean Kleyn in Ireland’s
World Cup squad rather than the second row stalwart Devin Toner was the nationality of the team’s head coach, Joe Schmidt. The New Zealander takes charge of his final home match on Saturday against Wales before his last hurrah in the World Cup having turned
Ireland into serious contenders.
Schmidt has the best record of an Ireland head coach in the professional era, comfortably so having overseen three Six Nations championships and a grand slam last year. When asked for a comment this week about the sympathy expressed for Toner by the World Rugby vice-chairman, Agustín Pichot, who led a campaign to extend the residential qualification period in international rugby from three to five years, he could not hide his exasperation.