Friday 22 June 2018 20:57, UK
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt says he will wait until the end of the year before deciding his future beyond the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Schmidt has taken the Six Nations champions to the No. 2 world ranking, behind only New Zealand, heading into Saturday's third and series-deciding Test against Australia in Sydney, live on Sky Sports Action.
"By the end of this year I would say there will be some fair direction there because for the entire following year I'm still in situ, unless I get sacked," Schmidt said on Friday.
"You can be flavour of the month one week, and things can turn around very quickly, so I take nothing for granted."
Schmidt credited his assistants with much of Ireland's recent success.
"One of the misconceptions is that a head coach has a major influence," he said. "I'd like to think I have a degree of influence, but there's a great coaching team, that includes Jason Cowman, the strength and conditioning coach (and) the medical team."
Schmidt said the wishes of his family will also have a bearing on his decision, which will not come until after Ireland's November home Tests against Argentina, New Zealand and the United States.
"One of the few times of the year our family manage to get together is Christmas and we'll make our decision after that I'd say," Schmidt said.
Watch the Series decider between Australia and Ireland at a sold-out Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Action.
