Ireland v Australia: Laurie Fischer on Munster, Croke Park, Paul O'Connell and Joe Schmidt's effect
The affable Canberran was in the coaches' box at Croker for that seismic Munster v Leinster showdown in 2009 and, 15 years later, he's back in Dublin - this time alongside Joe Schmidt, not against him
Laurie Fischer was in the opposite camp to Joe Schmidt on that fateful day in Croke Park when the Irish rugby landscape changed utterly.
It was almost a year after Fischer joined Munster as their new forwards coach in 2008. In the other corner, Joe Schmidt was masterminding Leinster's shock and awe Heineken Cup semi-final victory over the Reds.
Leinster have been in the ascendency ever since. "I just know that I won more games against Leinster than I lost, so I'll rest on that," smiled Fischer.
READ MORE:Paul O'Connell admits to adopting Joe Schmidt's laid-back coaching style
"Munster had some great players at the time so I learned a lot from my time here. We had just about the full Irish team at that time so it was a great learning experience from guys like Paul (O'Connell), Donncha (O'Callaghan), Ronan (O'Gara) and all those guys.
"I had my family here and we really enjoyed the hospitality of the people, living out in Ballincollig, and they couldn't have done more to make us feel welcome."
He is Schmidt's lieutenant now and, together, they have forged a new path for Fischer's Australia from the very low base the Wallabies found themselves at while under Eddie Jones' control.
Ireland are up next. "Yeah look, Joe's got an intimate knowledge of Irish rugby over the past decade but in the end the guys on the field are going to determine the result," insisted Fischer. "If it comes down to the bounce of a ball or a moment of incredible execution, we'll hope with five minutes to go we're in the hunt for that to happen."
In the opposite corner this weekend at the Aviva Stadium will be Paul O'Connell. "He's a class act," said Fischer.
O'Connell has credited the 60-year-old with helping him get his coaching career off the ground. "We had a lot of talk about maul attack, maul defence, breakdown," Fischer explained. "We had pretty regular conversations which I learned as much as I gave, so always good conversations. Probably not as much post-World Cup, but we've had some conversations."
Fischer is loving working with Schmidt. "I've known Joe for a long time but never coached with him previously," he said. "He really is a great guy to work with.
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"He's got an insane amount of knowledge about all aspects of the game. He's got a great manner with his staff and the players. He's got a great eye for detail on the pitch and that's something we're all chasing to be better at.
"He sees things in the moment, which is what makes him a better coach than most. You don't waste time going back and reviewing to see stuff that you shouldn't have been doing. His eye for detail and his ability to coach in the moment is second to none."
Being around Schmidt, he says, ensures you must improve not just as a player, but as a coach. "Well, I think you just feel you have to be," smiled Fischer. "It's not so much that he challenges you... he's throwing ideas at you, but you just know you've got to give your best."
The former Ireland maestro will decide in December whether he will remain with the Wallabies beyond the Lions tour next summer. Those involved are desperate for him to stay. "I think it would be great for Australian rugby," said Fischer. "He's a class act and he's making a huge difference.
"But he's got other things and he'll make decisions around whatever's happening in his life. Whichever way it goes, I wish him all the best. But in the short period he's been here, I think he's made an enormous change for the better.
"I like the fact that we're not reinventing the wheel each week, it really is about how we play and fine-tuning our game, getting better at our skillsets and understanding. That's what the players enjoy.
"It's not incredibly complex but it's challenging to your skillset and that's what players like. They know what they're supposed to do, they just need to get out there and get better at doing it.
"I know Joe from day one said that he sought permission to be 100% honest with the group about what they did well and what they're not doing well. Players always say, 'yeah, give me the truth, give me both barrels', but they don't necessarily mean it, I don't think!
"But listen, we've got a generally good group of players and Joe is honest with them about what we're doing well and not doing well. You're looking for growth."
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