Joe Schmidt gave little away as he confirmed that he will make a final decision on his future as Ireland boss on Sunday.
The head coach's contract expires at the end of the Japan World Cup next season and the IRFU were keen for the New Zealander to sign an extension.
The 53-year-old did hint that his success with the national team - who he has led to three Six Nations titles and brought to the number two spot in the world since taking over six years ago - has come at the expense of family time.
"Yeah, look it's a decision that will probably not be finalised until Sunday really but it's a decision that's been a long time coming," he told reporters ahead of Ireland's final November Test against the USA on Saturday.
"The family I have probably committed most to is this family that I live with in Carton House [the Ireland training camp] as much as it is the family I have at home. So we've put our heads together and tried to reconcile how we can best maybe cater for both.
"I think certainly early next week [the decsion will be announced].
"I'd like to be able to take a deep breath on Sunday and then...I know I can't continue to just go backwards and forwards because to be honest I've beaten myself up enough about this decision."
Here's your Ireland team to play @USARugby in the final test match of the #GuinnessSeries#TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder #IREvUSA pic.twitter.com/5E6ryvRSjc
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 22, 2018
Speaking to RTÉ Sport's Michael Corcoran later, Schmidt added: "It's all about defending our Six Nations title, if we could do that it would be a phenomenal run.
"It would be a little bit of history for us to have accumulated four wins in the space of six years. That's going to be incredibly difficult to do because we have this great big target on our forehead now.
"And then obviously the World Cup, I'm incredibly invested in that. None of that is going to change regardless of whatever decision gets made.
"I'll talk to [IRFU performance director] David Nucifora over the next three or four days post the game and try to nut out exactly what the decision is and where we go from there."
Follow Ireland v USA via our liveblog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the News Now app, watch live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player or listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 this Saturday (kick-off 6.30pm)
