Schmidt warns players to be wary of backlash

JOE SCHMIDT takes his Leinster team back to the Aviva Stadium tonight looking for a similar return against pool rivals Bath (6pm) as they achieved at the same stage last season against Clermont Auvergne.

Schmidt’s first taste of the Aviva as Leinster head coach came in round four of the pool stages when his players, backed by 44,873 fans, scored a bonus point win over his former club en route to being crowned Heineken Cup champions.

After an opening day draw in Montpellier, followed by wins at the RDS over Glasgow and Bath at The Recreation Ground last Sunday, Leinster are in better shape than a year ago when they lost the first of their back-to-back ties with Clermont in France the previous week.