While many in Wales have called for their union to headhunt Simon Easterby to become their next head coach, Bernard Jackman says he would be "absolutely shocked" to see the Ireland interim boss leave the IRFU.
Wales are on the lookout for a new permanent head coach following the resignation of Warren Gatland yesterday. Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt will take charge for the three remaining games of this Six Nations, starting with Ireland's visit to Cardiff on 22 March, however Sherratt has ruled himself out of contention for the permanent job.
Saturday’s defeat to Italy was a record 14th consecutive loss for Wales, with their last win coming against Georgia at the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
With the WRU now on the hunt for a new head coach, Ireland’s interim head coach Easterby has been mentioned given his Welsh connections.
The 49-year-old spent almost all of his career with the Scarlets from 1999 to 2010, while he was head coach in Llanelli from 2012 until 2014, when he joined Joe Schmidt’s backroom team as forwards coach.
The former Ireland international still lives in Wales, which is one of the main reasons why he’s been flagged as a popular candidate.
Normally defence coach for Ireland, Easterby is filling in as head coach on a temporary basis while Andy Farrell is away with the British and Irish Lions.
And with how highly he’s valued in the Irish system, Jackman doesn’t expect his former international team-mate to be swayed by a job in Wales.
"I would be absolutely shocked if he wanted to go into that," he told the RTÉ Rugby podcast.
"If you're part of that Irish setup... Simon knows how difficult Wales is from his whole career playing there but his time as coach of Scarlets. I think it’s got worse for the regional head coaches since then.
"That does affect the head coach of the national team. Absolutely, he should be on any shortlist, but I personally would be shocked.
"I think the commute is manageable for international rugby, he’s working with brilliant players, he’s getting a taste of being head coach.
"If this season goes the way we hope it’ll go, he’ll put his hand up to be the successor to Andy Farrell eventually.
"I didn't think it was a runner. He absolutely should be on any shortlist but I don't think it would be a job that would be attractive to him."
Easterby is one of several names who have been mentioned as possible successors to Gatland, and Jackman believes it could be a role well suited to one former Leinster coach.
"[Michael] Cheika, for example, I would imagine... I’m only guessing here but he’s been in international rugby most of the last 10 years. He would never back away from a challenge.
"I think he’s nearly better with a challenge. He would revel in it.
"[Former All Blacks assistant] Leon MacDonald, apparently was interviewed by Munster, that’s the rumour. I know he’s actively looking to get back into coaching, he’s been linked to Australia.
"They will get a coach, that coach will want to bring his own team in, and whoever they get will insist that they have a say over what happens underneath [with the clubs], or else they’re at a lost cause. They need to be able to get stuck into the regional rugby, get stuck into the pathways," added Jackman, who spent 18 months in the Welsh system as head coach of Dragons.
"It's going to take a huge amount of flexibility and compromise from a lot of people to start this back.
"That's not being disrespectful to the current playing group. They’re putting everything in. I thought they were very brave against France and put a huge amount of effort in against Italy. You just look at the team. Their confidence level is on the floor.
"For Matt Sherratt, Ireland are probably the worst opponents you want next time up. We’re quite consistent and quite robust mentally, whereas you’d say if they played Scotland or even France at home, there’s more of a chance of an upset.
"You would think Ireland are the team, of the five opponents, they are the one you’d least like to play first, I would think."
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch Munster v Scarlets in the URC on Saturday from 4.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
