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.

“I’ll tell you what, they are such a good bunch to work with, I haven’t been watching [out for that] too much. I saw them train and I’ve heard them in the team meeting talking about how we are going to play and what they are going to throw at us.

“I can see they are clued in,” he added before launching into a monologue about how the Heineken and Amlin Cups have expanded in terms of quality sides since his arrival in Europe from New Zealand six years ago.

“I don’t think there’s a lot of room to get too complacent. The players’ immediate focus is very much the here and now. If you are not focused on that and you are chasing the red jersey then you have got it the wrong way around because the red jersey doesn’t come if you don’t perform in a green or a blue one first.”

The identity of the man wearing the blue number 10 this weekend is awaited with particular interest. Schmidt and his staff will have decided by now, having sat down to discuss selection matters yesterday afternoon, but it will be noon today before official word is released.

The smart money is on Jonathan Sexton.

Ireland’s first-choice out-half returned to the field after injury without missing a step in the high-scoring RaboDirect PRO12 win away to Zebre last week and his experience at the very highest level will surely trump Ian Madigan’s excellence and youthful exuberance whilst deputising this last few months.

From a long-term viewpoint, Leinster would have more to gain from playing the younger man given Sexton will relocate to Paris this summer but first things first, as the coach intimated with regards to the Lions, and that means putting their best forward in the pursuit of trophies.

Schmidt all but confirmed that both will contribute at some point in Ballsbridge and a comment on how Madigan’s line-breaking abilities were a particular threat against tired defences was merely another reason to believe that Sexton will be tasked with playing from the first whistle.

“Ian has probably got a bit of a change up. You don’t see Jonny score as many tries as Ian who plays a little bit flatter.”

Waiting game for Schmidt

Joe Schmidt expressed the hope yesterday that the IRFU would announce their choice of new national coach sooner rather than later — and the Kiwi may well be taking a phone call from the union as early as today.

Leinster’s head coach was among those interviewed for the role last week but has been kept busy preparing for tomorrow’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final at home to Biarritz.

Schmidt will also be in Limerick tonight for the British & Irish Cup semi-final between Munster A and their Leinster counterparts when he gets the chance to run the rule over players who may feature for him in a green jersey. He is expected to be offered — and to take — the role but batted away suggestions it was difficult to keep his focus on Leinster.

“It was a really good chat,” he said of last week’s interview. “It was a good opportunity to answer a few questions and ask a few questions and I haven’t too much to add. I know it will be [sorted] soon.