Coach rejects suggestions of Leinster bias

Joe Schmidt has dismissed suggestions of bias towards Leinster fringe players in the national squad.

Former Munster and Ireland forward Denis Leamy claimed last week that too many Leinster fringe players were being picked on the bench ahead of colleagues from Ulster and Munster players who were playing more regularly at club level.

Leamy championed Tommy O’Donnell ahead of Jordi Murphy, Donnacha Ryan over Rhys Ruddock and Paddy Jackson in place of Ian Madigan while also pointing to the absence from the matchday squads of Simon Zebo.