Joe Schmidt has won 2 from 4 Six Nations. Finishing highly the other two times.
His record versus the Southern Hemisphere Big Three is 50%, 50% and 33.33%. In all games bar one, Ireland have been highly competition and arguably could have won. Within that record is Ireland’s first win on tour versus one of those big three in decades, and Ireland’s first win over New Zealand.
His overall international record is 60%.
He gets a pass because of this consistency.
In terms of quality of rugby, Ireland have played some excellent rugby under him. Including scoring 5 tries to beat the All Blacks and the 2015 Six Nations. People also remember that his Leinster sides that won in Europe played some tasty rugby.
In terms of big games lost, there’s been some lost and some won. Big deal, it’s a competitive sport. If Alex Ferguson had been missing Ronaldo and Rooney in 2008 versus Chelsea in that final would you not have a bit of understanding for the situation. Schmidt was missing Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahoney, Sean O’Brien, Jonny Sexton and Payne for that quarter final in 2015. It wasn’t like 2011 where we had our big guns available and completely fucked up.
Gatland has two grand slams, fair. But his Southern Hemisphere record with Wales is like two wins in 9 years. Overall his Welsh teams have not been consistent, with just a 50% record. So both of them have some good on their CV, but Schmidt’s teams have been far more consistent. Gatland won’t get the All Blacks job because of this. Gatland can get Wales playing out of their skin against England or Ireland, but too often his teams cannot sustain his gameplan. He’s a motivator as a coach, and that’s tough to keep up.
In terms of criticism, sure he might deserve more but most people have a bit of objectivity. If the roles were reversed you would be lambasting Gatland for his overall record as a national coach with the facts above.
Here you are though, watching every single minute of Munster, Irish and Lions rugby and posting dozens of times a game hoping to get bites. The investment of your time is quite something.