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Ireland feel so well-drilled into the Joe Schmidt method that even in the absence of their taskmaster head coach his plans are fully expected to bear fruit.<\/p>\nIreland feel so well-drilled into the Joe Schmidt method that even in the absence of their taskmaster head coach his plans are fully expected to bear fruit.<\/p>\n
Head coach Schmidt has spent this week in his native New Zealand following a family bereavement, and may not take charge of Saturday\u2019s World Cup warm-up match against Italy.<\/p>\n
The 53-year-old Ireland boss is due back in Dublin come the weekend, but assistant coach Andy Farrell could well pilot operations in the Aviva Stadium clash with the Azzurri.<\/p>\n
And if Schmidt does take a back seat on Saturday, back-rower Jordi Murphy sees no reason for Ireland not to get into gear.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis week, he hasn\u2019t been here, and it\u2019s not like we\u2019ve gone back to the drawing board and started trying to recreate everything again,\u201d said Murphy, of Schmidt.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just been a pretty smooth transition. So the coaches know exactly what Joe wants.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure they\u2019ll be in constant contact and we\u2019ll just try to move from there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had a pretty similar week to what we usually would any other time.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s our head coach, and you just know Joe\u2019s probably been thinking about and planning for this game for about a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I don\u2019t think there\u2019ll be any huge change in what we\u2019re looking to achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former England coach Farrell will replace Schmidt as Ireland boss after the World Cup, with the ex-schoolteacher taking a break from rugby to spend more time with his family.<\/p>\n
Farrell could find himself with an unexpected dress rehearsal for that future head coaching stint this weekend then, if Schmidt chooses not to lead the team against Italy.<\/p>\n
The 44-year-old has plenty of top-level experience, having worked under Stuart Lancaster at England and also with Warren Gatland with the British and Irish Lions.<\/p>\n
And Ulster loose forward Murphy believes Farrell will have no qualms stepping up, either now or when replacing Schmidt after the World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a big presence, a big man,\u201d said Murphy, of Farrell.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s coached some pretty big teams in the past too. Over the last few days it will have been a glimpse of what things will be like for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he\u2019ll take to it like a duck to water, no doubt; it will be an easy transition for him.\u201d<\/p>\n