Schmidt frustrated at ref’s ruck rulings

THE loss of Ireland international Kevin McLaughlin and openside Dominic Ryan to ankle injuries leaves Joe Schmidt without 23 first choice players for Saturday’s trip to The Scarlets in the PRO12 League.

The mounting list of injuries was almost as difficult to digest for Schmidt as was the loss of a 28-match unbeaten home record against Glasgow at The RDS.

It left him with what he called “contrasting emotions” following Ireland’s defeat of Australia earlier on Saturday