Schmidt: Early trials the making of Leinster

IT’S the reason his side are currently scrambling for a top four finish in the Magners League — and he didn’t enjoy it much at the time — but Joe Schmidt believes Leinster’s early season blip has been the making of his side.

The New Zealander is chasing a Heineken Cup and Magners League double in his first season in charge and a win over Ulster tomorrow would go a long way towards securing a semi-final spot in the Celtic competition to go with the European one achieved last weekend.

Leinster started their season poorly under the former Clermont backs coach, who now admits he struggled with the rigours of managing within the Ireland player welfare scheme that held his best players back in the early part of the season.