While in many quarters there seems to be an existential crisis around this Irish rugby team, former Ireland international Tommy Bowe thinks it is all going according to plan for Joe Schmidt.
Speaking on Tuesday's OTB AM, Bowe said he has faith in what the New Zealander has put in place.
“Joe Schmidt is a genius when it comes to rugby, to think that he hasn’t some plan in place, some way of trying to maneuver teams around the park.
“This has been a four-year cycle for Joe, he’s beaten the All-Blacks, he’s won a test series in Australia and he’s won a Grand Slam Six Nations.
“This [the World Cup] has been his main focus through that whole four-year period. I would believe even with the disappointment of the Six Nations that he has a plan in place," he said.
In Bowe's eyes, the World Cup was always the target and Schmidt did not place too much importance on the Six Nations.
“I spoke to him before the Autumn Internationals and he said, “Whatever happens in the Six Nations happens, the World Cup is our main focus’”.
Photo Credit: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
In Joe We Trust
“This is a top-quality side and I think during the Six Nations Joe was trying something out.
“I think it was almost potentially a plan for Joe to try and upset things. He spoke before the Six Nations about how he hoped they finished second or third and they did," the Ulster man said.
There has been a lot of pessimism around the team in recent weeks but Bowe's belief has not wavered.
“I’m putting my trust in him, I know that everyone is down about the whole thing. Joe is the new Muhammad Ali.”
“I think we have to have our trust in the players, we’re not a bad team we just maybe need a little bit of confidence and get the country behind us," he said.
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