Schmidt discounts talk of Six Nations Grand Slam
Dublin (AFP) - Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said any talk of a third ever Five/Six Nations Grand Slam for the Irish was premature as he envisages a tough battle ahead against Wales in Cardiff in a fortnight.
The 49-year-old New Zealander was speaking after his defending Six Nations champions had produced another gutsy performance to beat England 19-9 at Lansdowne Road on Sunday to erase their opponents' hopes of the Grand Slam.
However, Schmidt -- whose side equalled the national record of 10 successive Test wins set back in 2002/03 and ended by England in a Grand Slam winner-takes-all showdown -- played down expectations.
"I'll wait for 'Dricos' tweet before I start to feel the pressure!" Schmidt joked in reference to former Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll.
"Grand Slams don't happen very often and it will be very hard at the Millennium.
"The last time Wales won the title (2013), they also lost their first match (this time they lost to England).
"They will be looking at us and believing they can win."
Schmidt, who has 13 wins from 16 tests since he took over at the helm in 2013, was also keen to discount talk of the title; the Irish have not retained the crown since 1948/49 when it was the Five Nations.
"Control is a fickle thing," he said.
"It is nice to be in our position. We got a 20 points swing today which is very important with England having two home games to come (against winless Scotland and France, who have just one win from three).
"So if we slip up in one of our matches this points difference advantage we gained today could be crucial," added Schmidt, whose side won the title last year on a better points advantage than England's.
His England counterpart Stuart Lancaster, who has seen his side win four out of five matches in the past three Six Nations and still end up without the title, said all was not lost.
"Absolutely we can still win it," said Lancaster.
"There were very few years where there are Grand Slams.
"It is critical we win our remaining home games and Ireland slip up.
"However, don't discount Wales as their win over France has put them right back into the mix," added the 45-year-old.
Lancaster, who has restored England's image since the debacle under Martin Johnson at the 2011 World Cup, said he wasn't certain whether he would make changes to the squad for the next game against Scotland.
"It is too early to tell," said Lancaster, like Schmidt a former schoolteacher.
"Obviously some guys who played in the Premiership this weekend could have played themselves into contention.
"Also the guys who came on in the second-half added impetus and momentum to the team."
Schmidt, who has to wait anxiously on assessments of key players fly-half Jonathan Sexton (hamstring) and flanker Sean O'Brien (concussion protocols), said that he didn't know whether the team had come of age yet.
"It's a hard thing to quantify," said Schmidt.
"Because one is always changing personnel. Like today Jamie Heaslip would have played but because of injury Jordi Murphy played instead.
"The squad is maturing and that is reflected in the fact when we get our noses in front we stay there."
For his captain Paul O'Connell the team could well become the best one he has played for during his long and glittering career.
"It's getting close to it," said the 35-year-old, who should win his 100th Irish cap against Wales.
"We're doing lots of things really well. I just think focusing on the one game at a time, leaving the wider goals to the coaching staff, really suits us.
"However, I think after we have enjoyed this moment there will be a pretty brutal assessment of this match on Tuesday!"
