New Ulster recruit Ian’s just Mad for former boss

OUT-HALF Ian Madigan says a player crosses Joe Schmidt at his peril but he found the Kiwi’s hard edge actually drove him on to be a better player.

Madigan will join Ulster ahead of the new season after three years with Bristol Bears (above) and a season in Bordeaux but he still remembers the ‘scary’ side of the ex-ireland coach.

“If you are slacking in any way, sloppy technique; if he thinks that you can do something properly and really well and you’re not doing it he’ll just lose the head with you. And when he turns on you he is a scary man.

“I know he smiles a lot of the media and stuff, but I used to joke that you play with Joe (inset) on your shoulder, because if you weren’t doing what he wanted you to do, you’d nearly hear him.

“But that was exactly what I needed. I need to be coached that way. I need to be coached hard and it really suited me. I just kind of drove me on every day, which I loved.”

Schmidt became Leinster coach in Madigan’s second season as a senior professional and with the New Zealander in charge Madigan and Leinster won two Heineken Cups and two Celtic League titles.

When the former Blackrock College student left Leinster to join the Top 14 side in 2016 his Ireland career was then ended by Schmidt but he says rekindling that international dream is the main reason he is returning to Ulster.

And even though Schmidt was behind his Irish exile, Madigan says he loved his honesty and never felt he was dropped without reason.

“I always had a relationship with Joe and I felt I could say whatever I wanted to him. He gave me great guidance on my game. If he didn’t pick me I always felt that I got honest answers from him. He gave me clear things to work on,” Madigan told an Instagram Live interview with EJ Menswear.

“That’s all I wanted. I’d rather someone say to me, ‘Here look, your kicking out of hand is not good enough and you’ve missed too many tackles on your left side, go away and work on that’.

“I think with Joe you always earned your selection with him. It was never a rash selection with him putting someone young in front of you. But when he did pick you it was because you bloody earned it. If you produce for him he’ll stick by you.”