Joe Schmidt to decide on Ireland future after South Africa tour

Joe Schmidt will make a decision on whether he will coach Ireland at the 2019 Rugby World Cup after this summer's tour to South Africa.

Ireland will be keen to keep Schmidt at the helm once his contract expires in Summer 2017 after the 50-year-old has overseen two Six Nations victories in three years.

Schmidt could yet seek a Super Rugby coaching role in his native New Zealand with a view to potentially coaching the All Blacks in the future, if he chooses not to extend his current Ireland deal however.

"That's something I've committed to making a decision on once we get back from Africa really," said Schmidt.

"It's really important that there is a clear pathway for players to know that there's some continuity there, or if that continuity is going to be with someone else, that there's a span of enough time that they can get the game up and running as they see it best being played.

"I am conscious of my responsibility there."

Schmidt explained the decision on his long-term coaching future would boil down to far more than simply the enjoyment factor he garners from leading Ireland.

His son Luke suffers from epilepsy and Schmidt suggested his next move will have as much to do with what best suits his family as anything else.

"There's some factors outside of rugby that tend to dictate for me," said Schmidt.

"We'll be a little bit further down the track with some of those decisions as well."

Schmidt's immediate focus meanwhile will be on whether Ireland can salvage a third-place finish from a lacklustre 2016 Six Nations campaign with victory over Scotland in Dublin on Saturday.

Schmidt's men drew with Wales and lost in France and England before thumping Italy 58-15 last weekend.

Now Ireland will fight it out for third place with the Scots, with Schmidt hailing his good friend Vern Cotter for transforming this weekend's Aviva Stadium visitors.

"You couldn't get a better group of young men to work with, and the mix has changed a bit this year," said Schmidt.

"We're going to go out on the weekend and play with about half as many caps as last time we played Scotland.

"Those things change but at the same time you can still get pretty excited about what the future might hold."