Garry Ringrose says Simon Easterby stays ‘lifeless targeted’ on his position as Eire’s interim head coach amid stories he could possibly be the subsequent Wales boss.
The 49-year-old has guided the aspect to 2 bonus-point wins to begin their Six Nations marketing campaign with traditional head coach Andy Farrell on secondment with the British and Irish Lions.
He has, nonetheless, been linked to the Wales job following affirmation of Warren Gatland’s departure on Wednesday.
The previous again row was a participant and head coach with Scarlets and nonetheless lives in Wales, who Eire play in Cardiff on 22 February.
“I solely heard it off one of many lads however, positive, it isn’t a factor in any respect,” mentioned Ringrose of the reported curiosity.
“Simon is lifeless targeted on making an attempt to arrange as finest we will and that is aligned with what the gamers are driving to.”
Eire’s head of athletic efficiency Aled Walters, who labored at Scarlets when Easterby was a participant, feels such “hypothesis” was inevitable.
“He is that good a coach that there is at all times going to be hypothesis in skilled sport, that is human nature,” mentioned Walters.
“There’s been a change with Wales, and the truth that he lives there, he was at all times going to be linked.
“That is the standard of the person. Credit score to him and credit score to the group, nothing has been mentioned about it.
“We simply keep it up getting ready for Wales as we might usually.”
Walters, who joined the Irish workers final 12 months, has been impressed by how Easterby has taken to the top coach’s position having been an assistant on the ticket for greater than a decade.
“He is actually introduced his personal flavour to issues. It has been nice to see,” he added.
“Even within the autumn, he is a pacesetter. It isn’t like he is been sat again within the shadows and hastily thrust into the limelight.
“It hasn’t felt that totally different. He is been there the entire time.”
