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Published 16:11 15 Feb 2018 GMT
Updated 16:49 15 Feb 2018 GMT
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Schmidt was asked the odds on Ringrose were of returning to the Ireland set-up if he faced Scarlets at the weekend.
"I don't think Garry is going to play this weekend at this stage," he began.
"I haven't spoken to [Leinster head coach] Leo Cullen since Sunday. That may have changed as he was making really good progress. "He was on the cusp of being involved, probably a week ahead of where Sean O'Brien is at the moment. Garry for us, if he doesn't play [for Leinster] it wouldn't necessarily rule him out. He was outstanding in the Six Nations so he would be an option. "He may spend a couple of days next week with us and that will allow us to make a decision. If it's not us, I'm pretty sure it will be Leinster [v Kings] because he is due back."The Kings was always the likely return game and it will take something miraculous, or disastrous, for Ringrose to be rushed back. Schmidt was then asked about the size of Ireland's task, now that Robbie Henshaw has been ruled out of the championship. "It's a huge test," he replied. "I think people have gone past Jared Payne, who the last time we won the Six Nations played the whole time at 13 and was unbelievably good for us. He was one of the guys we lost in the World Cup."
"Now we're down a third centre so if you look at the strength in depth, we're down to our fourth centre. It's a great test for us. "There has been a lot of focus on players other teams didn't have but we're always excited about who we do have and focus on who we do have. It was a lot of glossing over the 12 guys we had unavailable but at the same time there was a lot of excitement about people saying we were in really good shape."Schmidt concluded, "If we can keep people positive despite losing Josh van der Flier on top of not having Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien and Tommy O'Donnell, I think we're in a pretty good place. I think we'll all be watching against Wales and find out a little bit."
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