Rugby: Richie McCaw tips Joe Schmidt to be Steve Hansen's All Blacks successor

Richie McCaw. Photo / Photosport

In the discussion about who will succeed Steve Hansen as All Blacks coach, Ireland coach Joe Schmidt's name is often thrown in to the conversation.

Richie McCaw is no exception.

Speaking at an AIG sponsored event ahead of the All Blacks clash against England in Twickenham tomorrow morning (NZ time), the former All Blacks captain said Schmidt was a strong candidate.

"There's no doubt that people admire what Joe has done with the Irish team," McCaw said.

"He's been away for a while, but there's no doubt amongst the people who understand rugby that he has a very good way of looking at the game.

"I think everybody sits there hoping one day he'll come back and put himself back in the mix in New Zealand, and we get the benefit of all the experience he's had at an international level and obviously quite a few years successfully at club level as well.

"From Ireland's point of view, you want to try and lock him [Schmidt] in and from New Zealand's point of view, if Steve doesn't continue, they're going to want all the options on the table.

"It will be hard for Joe, because he wants to concentrate on doing a good job for the next 12 months, but if he wants to put his name in the hat, it will be pretty good to have a coach like that looking around."

The New Zealand-born Schmidt has been plying his trade in the Northern Hemisphere since 2007 when he left his post as Blues assistant coach to take up an offer with Clermont in France.

Since taking over the reins of the Irish national since in 2013, Schmidt has helped lift the nation from ninth ranked to second, and last season led them to their third Six Nations Grand Slam, which they previously achieved in 1948 and 2009.

However, should Hansen choose to step away from his post after next year's World Cup and Schmidt not throw his name in the ring, McCaw also listed Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, Hurricanes coach John Plumtree and Japan coach Jamie Joseph a possible candidates.