The future of Ireland’s Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt is a major talking point in Dublin before Sunday’s test against the All Blacks.
Schmidt has said he'll announce his post-World Cup career path following the November tests so speculation is rife.
When you enter a Schmidt press conference you should bring a dictionary or encyclopaedia.
"World Cup cycle is a completely nebulous term to us. We talk about circadian rhythm, day to day," Schmidt said.
The master coach has quite a vocabulary, and he also has a dry sense of humour.
"It’s always a big achievement to beat the All Blacks. That's why we limit ourselves to once every 115 years, because we don’t want to get carried away."
Schmidt is also protective if his players and Ireland’s controversial recruitment policies.
Former Chief Bundee Aki has been shielded from interviews this week.
It’s because of a scathing newspaper article about Aki being lured from New Zealand to the Emerald Isle by the promise of a test jersey after a three year residency term.
Over five years, the 52-year-old’s rugby smarts have led Ireland to world Number two and a dominant force in Europe.
It means no one here wants Schmidt to go, as many Kiwis hope he’ll come home for the All Blacks job.
Anyone who is anyone in rugby is asked about it.
"If I did have some advice for him I wouldn’t be doing it in the media," said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. If he needs my advice on that he can ask me over a cold beer or a cup of coffee or something.
If Schmidt does leave Ireland after the World Cup, another win over New Zealand this weekend would look good on his CV.
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