LEINSTER COACH JOE Schmidt praised the contribution of Ian Madigan, after the star scored all the team’s points in their 22-17 win over Glasgow.
And while much is expected of the player given that he looks set to take over as the province’s first-choice out-half once Jonny Sexton departs, Schmidt emphasised that there was no additional pressure on him in light of his predecessor’s achievements.
“Ian is growing as a player all the time. He has an ability to change up and exploit gaps, particularly a soft shoulder on a forward if he sees an opportunity.
“I know Ian well, he knows me well. I would be inclined to take the [Sexton-related] pressure off him and say, play what you see in front of you, play your natural game.
“Otherwise, you get players trying to force things and that’s not a good mental state to approach a game.”
Reflecting on last night’s match, Schmidt admitted his side were not at their best:
“Our tackle execution wasn’t great – we can’t afford to slip off so many tackles“Glasgow are a very powerful team – Josh Strauss and DTH van der Merwe in particular are a handful.”
He added that the less than ideal weather also played a part in his team’s below-par display.
“Conditions were tough – the wind was pretty strong and it was easier to be accurate [because they weren't as bad] in the first half
“In that second half, the ball gets blown forward, which makes it tougher
“But any win at this stage of the season is a crucial win.”
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