Safety first for Schmidt

Leinster are about to start a Heineken Cup campaign that could conceivably end with them becoming the first team to win it three times in a row — and in their own back yard — but all Joe Schmidt wanted to talk about yesterday was Exeter.

Well, Exeter and Montpellier.

A year ago, the Irish province opened its account against the French side who, like the Chiefs coming to the RDS this week, were making their bow in Europe’s elite club tournament and it took a late Jonathan Sexton drop goal to scrape a draw.