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Keith Earls insists in-form Ireland have eradicated habits instilled by Joe Schmidt ahead of a reunion with their former head coach in Saturday\u2019s World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Schmidt led the Irish into the previous two World Cups, both of which ended with disappointing last-eight exits, before joining the All Blacks\u2019 coaching team last summer.<\/p>\n
The 58-year-old\u2019s largely positive six-year tenure culminated in a 46-14 hammering at the hands of the Kiwis at the 2019 tournament in Japan before he was succeeded by his assistant Andy Farrell.<\/p>\n
Schmidt is now plotting the downfall of his former employers after switching sides, with Ireland seeking to make history in Paris by stretching their winning run to 18 matches to reach a maiden semi-final.<\/p>\n
New Zealand boss Ian Foster publicly outlined plans to tap into Schmidt\u2019s extensive knowledge of the opposition, but Munster wing Earls dismissed the merits of doing so.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think Joe would know anything about this squad,\u201d said the 36-year-old. \u201cWe\u2019re a completely different squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe probably knows things about individuals but, again, we\u2019ve all changed our habits under this coaching staff and we genuinely don\u2019t use any of the habits that Joe taught us.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, he might have a thing on a couple of individuals, but we\u2019re certainly not the same team that played under Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schmidt was due to join the set-up of his native New Zealand following last summer\u2019s three-match home series against Ireland, but he was rushed in early after Covid-19 sidelined Foster and some of his staff.<\/p>\n
The All Blacks won the first Test but lost the next two as Ireland launched their current winning streak with a historic tour triumph.<\/p>\n
Veteran Earls believes that landmark achievement gave Ireland greater belief, which was enhanced further by this year\u2019s Six Nations Grand Slam success.<\/p>\n
Yet he concedes they would be foolish to underestimate the three-time world champions, who have scored 240 points and 36 tries across thrashings of Namibia, Italy and Uruguay following an opening-night defeat to hosts France.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis tournament is a different animal,\u201d said Earls.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know we have beaten New Zealand a few times in the last few years, but they have obviously taught us one or two lessons in between that and beaten us by more than one score.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019re under no illusion as to what is coming at the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople speak about New Zealand the last year or two that they\u2019ve dipped in performances, but what we\u2019ve seen in this World Cup, they\u2019re starting to come back with a roar.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the French game it\u2019s obviously ignited some spark in them. They\u2019re starting to hit their stride again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re certainly not undermining New Zealand, you would be very silly to do that.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI have no doubt they will be highly emotional and looking for revenge and bring everything they have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earls hopes to be available to add to his 101 caps after sitting out last weekend\u2019s victory over Scotland due to a hamstring niggle.<\/p>\n
He also missed Ireland\u2019s landmark first win over the All Blacks in 2016 in Chicago through suspension, a result, masterminded by Schmidt, which he credits for helping to improve Ireland\u2019s self-image.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Irish people, we can lack a lot of confidence and be a small bit too humble at times,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve done an awful lot of work on ourselves to believe that we can play a certain brand of rugby that can make us compete with anyone in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n