Schmidt wants changes to PRO12 schedule

Joe Schmidt has warned that teams may have to sacrifice PRO12 ambitions to enhance their chances of European success if the competition does not re-examine its play-off schedule.

Leinster faced Glasgow Warriors two evenings ago in the RDS and picked up a handful of worrying injuries just seven days before facing an inactive Ulster side in Saturday’s first all-Irish Heineken Cup final.

Last year, the province was afforded a Friday night Magners League play-off against Ulster and thus an eight-day turnaround before the Heineken Cup decider against Northampton as they battled to get Brian O’Driscoll and Richardt Strauss fit for the fray.