Keith Wood believes the length of the contract extension agreed by Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt and the IRFU is a smart move.
Schmidt will remain in charge of the national team until 2017 and former Ireland captain, Keith, thinks it leaves all options open.
"We've seen times past where Eddie O'Sullivan got a four-year contract on the eve [of a World Cup] and that didn't work out so well - and to be honest I think four years is too long on the eve of a tournament and it kind of puts you into the middle to say, yeah, all options are open in the middle of that and if you do decide that the coach needs to go somewhere else, either because he's lost his mojo or wants to go somewhere else, you've still got plenty of time to get organised again before the next World Cup," he said.
"I think it plays it right for Ireland, it plays it right for the team and it plays it right for Joe Schmidt. I think it keeps all options open actually."
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
With New Zealand's current head coach Steve Hansen's contract scheduled to expire in 2017 when Schmidt will be available as a replacement as things stand after today, Keith says the next few months will be pivotal if the All Blacks and Schmidt are to join up in the future.
"What will stand out is the back-to-back trophies because that shows a level of consistency that hadn't been there before. Also the loss by a couple of points to New Zealand back at the very start of [his Ireland] career, that was very frightening for New Zealand and the coach never wants to be the person who loses that 100 per cent record against Ireland. So, I think they did stand up and take notice from then. I think the World Cup could trigger something very, very differently."
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