Keith Wood would like to see Joe Schmidt as the next Lions coach, but accepts that Schmidt's comments today hint that there are plenty of options on the table.
Keith was speaking on Wednesday Night Rugby on the day that launched the Six Nations 2019, with media rumours swirling that Schmidt was set to be the next Lions coach.
"There are a lot of conversations that happen at the start - it's a long way out.
"You are looking for a guy that is available. I know that sounds wrong because it's such a big deal - but it's a big deal that requires a lot of admin that isn't as intense.
"The tour itself is only a number of weeks. So the intensity is huge but it's for that period of time.
"For someone as organised as Joe Schmidt, I am sure he would be able to pull that together."
"I think he is doing what a coach that is finishing his contract in nine months is supposed to do - he's casting out the net to see what is out there.
Pressed on who he would want to see in the job, Keith said "I would go for Joe Schmidt, obviously."
Joe Schmidt Lions comments
Schmidt went on record regarding rumours that he is to take up the Lions' coaching gig, after Warren Gatland leaves the post. He was less than definitive in his denial.
"I had not made too many plans but the short-term plan is to not be involved in coaching, certainly not for 12 months and I'd say quite likely longer than that.
“We've got a couple of projects that are family-related that we want to work our way through.
“And I don't spend a lot of time at home already so I think it's probably high time I did.”
Expanding further, Schmidt intimated it might be an issue of timing.
“I wouldn't be available if asked at the moment”
“I said to my wife that we'd get these 12 months done and she said, 'Yeah, look, you'll last 12 days, potentially, without needing to do something'."
Elsewhere today, Joe spoke to Off The Ball about Ross Byrne's omission from the Six Nations squad, and Johnny Sexton's injury prognosis.
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