Joe Schmidt would do a fine job with Ireland as Declan Kidney's replacement, claims Leinster lock Leo Cullen And, considering the importance of this stage in the season, with Leinster still in the hunt for two trophies in the Amlin and RaboDirect Pro12, Cullen hopes that attention on Schmidt is turned elsewhere. It emerged on Wednesday that Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie would be interested in taking up a post with Ireland once he leaves the Australian franchise at the end of the SANZAR Super Rugby season. This follows on from the announcement on Tuesday that the IRFU will not be renewing incumbent coach Declan Kidney's contract in the summer. His assistant, Les Kiss, will take charge during the team's end-of-season tour to North America. New Zealander Schmidt won the French Top 14 with Clermont Auvergne in 2010 and won the Heineken Cup with Leinster in 2011 and 2012. His team are expected to do well in the Amlin Challenge Cup as well as the Pro12, a competition that Schmidt has failed to win at both times of asking, losing to rivals Munster in 2011 and to the Ospreys in 2012. Talking of the game on Friday, Cullen said any suggestion that Pro12 success is more pressing for Leinster than an Amlin victory was wide of the mark. "We have no preference," he added. We have lost three Pro12 finals in a row and are trying to address the problem. Look at the quarter-finals: there is real quality in this Amlin competition. I find the pressure is good. Success builds on the back of success and if you have a little you want more and people expect more. Competing on two fronts is good for us; as a group we are pretty driven.