Ireland coach Joe Schmidt cool on England links

Ireland boss Joe Schmidt has played down reports that he is being lined up to replace Stuart Lancaster as England's head coach.

Reports in France claimed the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has installed Schmidt as its top target to step in for embattled England boss Lancaster.

Lancaster has become under increasing pressure after England were dumped out of the World Cup at the pool stage.

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With Ireland preparing for their World Cup quarter-final against Argentina in Cardiff at the weekend, Schmidt insisted he would not be hunting a new position.

"I don't know where that's come from at all," he said. "Externally I'd be a fan of Stuart Lancaster as a person and what he's trying to build there.

"If we'd lost last weekend it could be someone else being propositioned for my job. Stuart is a first-class character.

"I certainly wouldn't be going after his job."

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