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'We couldn't say anything at that point because things needed to be signed'
By Chris Jones
Ireland rugby fans will get an indication of what the future could hold for their national team against Italy in Dublin on Saturday with the Azzuri’s attack masterminded by Mike Catt, the former England World Cup winner.
Catt will quit as Italy attack coach after the World Cup in Japan to take up the same role under new Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, which puts the former Bath utility back in a difficult position on Saturday. However, Conor O’Shea, the Irishman in charge of Italy, is adamant Catt’s only focus will be on the Azzuri and that his imminent departure will not be a factor.
O’Shea’s own position as head coach was the subject of intense speculation with news that Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith was joining the Italian management, but his arrival will be as a replacement for Catt not the head coach for the 2020 Six Nations.
O’Shea describes Smith as an “unbelievable" rugby brain who previously coached and played for Treviso and said: “There has been no effect on us at all and this is a professional sport and we have known about Mike’s move for a long time. There was a lot of speculation with stories about various people coming in and out, but we knew what was actually going on.
"We couldn’t say anything at that point because things needed to be signed. As a player you have your time in the jersey and that is the same for a coach and Mike has been absolutely brilliant and he will have a great time when he joins Ireland with a different climate and weather!
“Right at the start, we said this is what is happening and let’s now forget about it. We will say our goodbyes to Mike after the World Cup and nothing has changed for us at all.”
O’Shea is confident there will be a seamless switch from Catt to Smith and added: “Even though it was in the papers who was supposedly going where, we could not say anything. We had to keep our counsel until the ink was dry and for me Franco is an unbelievable rugby brain and he speaks the Italian language fluently, has lived, played and coached in Italy. Like any country, there are frustrations over the speed of change but he will understand that immediately.
“He knows the players and it will be a pretty seamless move heading into the Six Nations but we will talk about that after the World Cup.”
Catt’s contract with Ireland will see him involved with the team up to and including the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
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Latest Comments
The manner of all these comments is that it doesn’t matter who plays No10 for the All Blacks, apparently they are all rubbish!
Seriously, people need to get a grip and stop obsessing over every tiny error made from an overscrutinised position. DMac was good this year for the most part, as was Beauden Barrett. Mo’unga was good last year and would be an asset in the group if he did come back. I don’t see it as an area of concern.
The main concern in 2025 is finding another world class lock and loose forward, followed by some scrutiny over the midfield combination in my view.
Go to commentsI was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
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