Garry Ringrose addresses Simon Easterby’s Wales links as exit rumours continue to swirl
Garry Ringrose has addressed the talk linking Simon Easterby with the Wales job
Garry Ringrose claims interim head coach Simon Easterby is “dead focused” on Ireland, despite growing links with the vacant Wales head coach post.
Easterby is one of the front-runners to succeed Warren Gatland at the Principality after the Kiwi coach left his role by mutual consent on Tuesday.
‘It’s not a thing at all’
The interim boss, who has stepped in for Andy Farrell this Six Nations, has impressed in his short spell at the helm with two back-to-back wins over England and Scotland.
As a result, Ireland are also the only team with maximum points after two weeks, which means the Grand Slam is still within their grasp.
Easterby has therefore seen his name thrown into the mix for the vacant Wales post, but with the possibility of that being a distraction, Ireland centre Ringrose feels he is still focused on the task ahead of him right now.
“I only heard it (the speculation) off one of the lads,” Ringrose told reporters. “But it’s not a thing at all.”
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He added: “Simon is dead focused on preparing us as best we can, and that’s aligned with what the players are driving to as well.”
Glasgow coach Franco Smith, who has also coached Test level with Italy, is another front-runner for the vacant position with Wales.
Aled Walters’ view
Ireland head of performance Aled Walters, who joined the coaching staff during the autumn and had previously worked with Easterby at the Scarlets, added his belief that it hasn’t affected the way they are preparing for Wales.
“There’s been a change in Wales, and with the fact that he lives there, he was always going to be linked,” he said.
“Credit to him and credit to the group, nothing has been said about it. We just carry on preparing for Wales as we would normally.”
After the fallow week, Ireland return to Six Nations action against Wales in the first game since Gatland’s departure.
