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Schmidt wants to go out on a high

18th May 2013 14:54

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Joe Schmidt

Craving more: Joe Schmidt

Leinster boss Joe Schmidt is determined to end his tenure with the region by bagging a trophy double.

Schmidt will leave the the helm of Leinster at the end of the season, a position he has held since 2010, to take over as Ireland head coach. Having seen his troops beat Stade Francais 34-13 in the Amlin Challenge Cup final on Friday, Schmidt is hopeful of adding the Rabodirect PRO12 crown to his tally next weekend when Leinster face Ulster in what will be Schmidt's final match in charge.

"We have one match to play so no matter what happens tonight we have to turn around and try and do our best next Saturday," said Schmidt.

"I am a reasonably simple person, I just want to focus on next Saturday now. It is something that has eluded us in the last two seasons, we have won Europe and lost the Celtic League.

"To win the PRO12 would be massive. We will be looking to double up if we can."

While claiming any silverware is an impressive feat, Leinster's Challenge Cup triumph only came as a result of failure in the Heineken Cup, which they won last season. The Kiwi coach insists that Friday's victory more than makes up for defeat in Europe's premier competition.

"It's a trophy we have wanted for the last two months," he said.

"This is our third European trophy in three years and if you had said that at the start of the season I would have taken it with both hands."

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Comments

leinster_goy says...

o'connor has a very hard act to follow next year. although the quality of the tigers's second half performance against quins last week fills me with optimism. and they gave toulonchester city a real scare in the Heino QF this year. but Schmidty is one of a kind

Posted 15:24 18th May 2013

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  • Amlin Challenge Cup Fixtures
Forthcoming Fixtures
Fixture Details
All times are local
Amlin Challenge Cup
Thursday , October 10
Stade Francais vs Olympus Madrid 19:45
Bayonne vs Grenoble 19:45
Sale vs Biarritz 19:45
Friday , October 11
Newport Gwent D'gons vs Mogliano Rugby 19:15
London Irish vs Cavalieri Prato 20:00
Saturday , October 12
Bucuresti vs Newcastle 13:00
Viadana vs Wasps 14:00
Oyonnax vs Worcester 17:30
Calvisano vs Brive 18:30
Bordeaux-Begles vs Bath 20:00
More Amlin Challenge Cup fixtures
  • Amlin Challenge Cup Table
Pool 1
Amlin Challenge Cup Table
Pos Team P Pts
1 Biarritz 0 0
3 Sale Sharks 0 0
4 Worcester 0 0
Pool 2
Amlin Challenge Cup Table
Pos Team P Pts
1 Bath 0 0
2 Bordeaux-Begles 0 0
3 Mogliano Rugby 0 0
4 Dragons 0 0
Pool 3
Amlin Challenge Cup Table
Pos Team P Pts
1 Brive 0 0
2 Bucuresti 0 0
3 Calvisano 0 0
4 Newcastle Falcons 0 0
Pool 4
Amlin Challenge Cup Table
Pos Team P Pts
1 Bayonne 0 0
2 Grenoble 0 0
4 London Wasps 0 0
Pool 5
Amlin Challenge Cup Table
Pos Team P Pts
1 Cavalieri Prato 0 0
2 London Irish 0 0
3 Olympus Madrid 0 0
4 Stade Francais 0 0

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