Relaxed Joe Schmidt cracks gags ahead of Ireland v Australia clash at Aviva Stadium

Joe Schmidt admits he feels comfortable being back in Dublin - and proved it by coming up with a couple of good lines at his team announcement press conference.

Schmidt coached here for 10 years as Leinster head coach and then Ireland head coach, guiding the men in green to a Grand Slam and two Six Nations.

Schmidt's daughter Abby still lives in Dublin and there has already been a family reunion this week. Asked if he was a bit overwhelmed to be back, the 59-year-old said: "It was a bit overwhelming at the airport on the way here, especially then the lads giving me a hard time!

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"No, it’s actually comfortable. I feel comfortable here. Ten years is a long time. And obviously we still have a home here, my daughter (lives there).

"I think we’re probably one of the few loss-making landlords in Dublin but that’s just the way it is! I think it's one of the funny things about Dublin, they talk about kids staying in the home longer - I think our kids just stayed until we left, so it was a pretty good plot that they had, I think!

"There will be apprehension because I have that every week. I even have it before training...'Jeez, i hope we don't break someone today, I hope the boys get some confidence and some rhythm here today'. So I try to be pretty transactional, pretty pragmatic on game day but there'll be some emotion in it for me, for sure."

Asked to reflect on his successful time in Ireland, Schmidt replied: "I think what you want to leave is a legacy that people are enthusiastic about the game. As much as anything that the success that has allowed interest to grow and the playing population to grow, and the health of clubs.

"I’m just going to catch up with people from Old Wesley, I’ll drop into Terenure while I’m back. I just love the fact that the sport is not just flourishing at the top end..

"But we’ve been really well hosted by Wanderers the last couple of days in the training, they’ve got a fantastic facility that we’ve been really able to enjoy. It’s always a multi-faceted thing, a multi-contributory thing.

"A lot of people were putting a lot of effort in to help make the game more accessible and also make it more successful at the top end."

The Kiwi also grinned when it was put to him that Johnny Sexton said he always had Schmidt's voice in his head, right to the end of during this decorated career.

Joe Schmidt speaks with Johnny Sexton during his time in charge of Ireland in 2019
(Image: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

"Ah, Jeez, I feel sorry for him if he had my voice still in his head," laughed Schmidt. "I mean, I worked with Johnny for 10 years so it's probably the longevity of the relationship and also that we would bounce back and forward with ideas.

"I really enjoyed the Leinster period because we had some really good contributors to how we played the game with Brian O'Driscoll, Isa Nacewa was a big influence as well and I think both Drico and Johnny would say he was influential in that team.

"And even just around being a blunt force instrument, Brad Thorn...there were a whole lot of guys in that era that were really influential.

"Sean O'Brien as a player was freakishly good through those Leinster years and unfortunately we didn't probably get to see the maximum of him in a green jersey, but in a blue jersey he was virtually unstoppable in a couple of those years.

Sean O’Brien
(Image: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland)

"So I think all those guys have helped mould Johnny and allow him to probably understand the game and himself, and understand that he needed to contain himself a few times and sometimes he just didn't anyway, but that was part of what really was a catalyst for the team, and the passion in the team.

"He brought that but he also brought the cold-blooded, clear decision making that you need. If he's still saying that I feel sorry for him! But I would have to say that he was fantastic to work with. He was really incredible, skilful and competitive, with a fantastic understanding of the game."

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