Sean Farrell reports from Cardiff

AN IRISH CITIZEN as well as head rugby coach, Joe Schmidt had no hesitation in brushing off any speculation linking him with a post in charge of England.

The World Cup hosts crashed out of the tournament in the pool stage and as a result coach Stuart Lancaster’s position is under immense scrutiny despite being contracted until 2020.

“I don’t know where that has come from at all,” Schmidt said of last night’s kite flown by Midi Olympique.

“Externally, I would be a fan of Stuart Lancaster as a person and what he is trying to build there.

“If we had lost (to France) last weekend it could be someone else propositioned for this job.

Stuart is a first-class character. I enjoy chatting with him before and after matches and I certainly am not going after his job.”