IRELAND HEAD COACH Joe Schmidt would like the roof of the Principality Stadium to remain open on Saturday when his side meet a Welsh side eyeing a Grand Slam.<\/p>\n
However, the Kiwi says that the call is out of his hands currently because Wales have directed a special request to close the roof directly to the Six Nations.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Ordinarily, the decision be left solely to the visiting team and Schmidt would rather the fixture remain open air as he says his last visit to the venue, a 2017 loss to Warren Gatland\u2019s men, the turf was slicked up by the sprinklers.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, I think the last time it was closed we arrived there and there was a lot said about making it good for spectators. Then the sprinklers were on for 30 minutes and the ground was very, very damp before the game started,\u201d Schmidt said after naming his side to face the Grand Slam chasers.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that probably enters into our minds about which closed is it going to be? Is it going to be closed and wet, or is it going to be closed and dry?<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it\u2019s closed and wet, we might as well have the roof open and let the rain come in.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Schmidt added: \u201cLast time we said \u2018look, we don\u2019t mind, you choose.\u2019 And they chose closed, but made the field incredibly wet at the start of the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we\u2019ll probably be happy enough if it\u2019s open anyway. We\u2019ll adapt to whatever conditions the game\u2019s played in.\u00a0 And if the Six Nations decide that it\u2019s going to be closed, well it will be closed and we\u2019ll play in those conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if they decide that it\u2019s open, then we\u2019ll play in those conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n