Schmidt: No drop in focus from Leinster’s Lions

Tomorrow’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final against Biarritz at the RDS will be played out in front of two of Gatland’s assistants, Graham Rowntree and Rob Howley, and up to nine Leinster men will be looking to lay down a marker for the trip to Hong Kong and Australia.

At least half a dozen of those must already feel reasonably assured yet none can be fully assured of a starting slot come the first Test. Food for thought then even if Schmidt hasn’t detected any minds wandering towards summer paddocks of late.