Ireland coach Schmidt has a year to go on his current deal, and according to reports in New Zealand, club side Highlanders are pursuing him.
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Leinster duo Greg Jones and Max Deegan went over for Ireland while Ulster’s Adam McBurney also scored a try.
Ireland are expected to change the side around for Wednesday’s final pool game against Georgia where a win over the newcomers, who have lost both games, will guarantee a semi-final spot for only the second time ever. Each pool victor plus the best second-placed team advance to the semifinals, which New Zealand have never missed.
It was noticeable when Ireland needed someone to put their foot through the ball, midway through the second-half against New Zealand, in the milling rain, no one took control.
“It is an incredible feeling”, said captain James Ryan.
Try-scorer Deegan said: “It’s the stuff of dreams, the moments you dream about in games where you have to score, you need to score, and to do that is honestly unbelievable”.
Prop Leon Brown crashed over after four minutes, but Wales could not build on their lead and were forced to hold on against the physical Eastern Europeans, who fought back with three penalties from Gela Aprasidze, while Jarrod Evans kicked one conversion and penalty to ensure the win.
And Strange wants to see Wales get back to their best as they attempt to topple the top-seeds, saying: “The win was important but our performance was disappointing, we never got going”. Jordie Barrett, who contributed nine points and Shaun Stevenson also scored tries for New Zealand.
England beat Scotland 44-0 to make it two wins from two at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship and move to the top of Pool B.
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The Grand Slam winners made the ideal start when Newport Gwent Dragons tighthead Leon Brown crashed over from close range but hopes of a try-fest were soon dashed.
