Spy games.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has admitted teams have spied on their training sessions in the past, and says it’s something he doesn’t believe in, nor does he think it’s necessary.

The New Zealander says he loves some of the “amateur values” that still exist in rugby, and that on more than one occassion Ireland have found out about an opposition spying on their sessions.

“I’d have to say I’m not a believer in it,” Schmidt said.

“I don’t believe that’s it’s necessary and I’d like to think there’s still a sense of fair play. I love some of the amateur values that still exist in rugby.”

“But I know it happens. I know it has happened to us a couple of times – but I don’t think you get distracted by it.”

“When you get the feedback, when it filters back, you’re disappointed but you kind of acknowledge, ‘OK, well, that’s their process, that’s their way of collecting information’.”

“It was stumbled upon at the time – or one of the times. You just get on with it.”

But the Ireland boss says it doesn’t interrupt their preparations.

“I don’t think it’s a massive issue and I wouldn’t be adversely distracted by it. You’ve just got to shrug your shoulders and get on with your own preparation.”

“If you were paranoid about it you’d never actually train properly. You’d always be worried about somebody looking.”

“One of the things that we’d say is if they look, if we do it well enough maybe we’d still be good enough to get a result.”