Schmidt: Defeat will be stored away as motivation for next season

HEAD coach Joe Schmidt is deter-mined to use Leinster’s Magners League final defeat to Munster as a motivational tool for next season as he tries to keep his European champions on their toes for his second campaign at the helm.

A week on from their heroic comeback in the Heineken Cup final victory against Northampton, Leinster were brought back to earth by arch rivals Munster in a 19-9 defeat at Thomond Park.

While accepting that the Heineken Cup final success in his debut season as head coach was something to be proud of, the New Zealander expressed his desire to make a better fist of the Magners League in 2012 following two consecutive grand final defeats.