Irish fans won’t like this list one bit.
The folks over at Wales Online have put together a fun list of the 25 best rugby coaches ever but there is no room for the Kiwi who has won two Heineken Cups, two Six Nations titles and a World Cup (okay, the last one is VERY presumptuous).
Joe Schmidt’s medal haul wasn’t deemed worthy of a place in the top 25 but his predecessor in Ireland, Declan Kidney, snuck in at number 21.
World Cup-winning coaches were rewarded handsomely for their achievements with the seven tacticians who lifted the trophy featuring in the top eight. The top 5 was as follows:
5. Jake White
4. Bob Dwyer
3. Kitch Christie
2. Rod Macqueen
1. Graham Henry
Obviously as Irish rugby fans, we are a bit biased but surely St. Schmidt was worth a place in the top 25?
If he can guide Ireland to a semi-final or a final this autumn, his stock will rise even more and after he wins the Lions tour in New Zealand and the 2019 World Cup with the All Blacks, he will definitely leapfrog all 25 coaches to top the list.
Watch this space.
