Ireland finished the 2017 RBS 6 Nations on a high and will look to carry that momentum into the rest of the calendar year.
Victory over England in Dublin ended the Red Rose’s chances of back-to-back Grand Slams and also stopped their winning run at 18 consecutive Tests.
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Having done the same to the All Blacks last year in Chicago, Schmidt’s side can take plenty of positives from a campaign that did see them suffer defeats to both Scotland and Wales.
This summer, with a number of absentees on British & Irish Lions duty that should stretch into double figures, Schmidt’s side have three Tests on the slate.
First up they cross the pond again to America, this time to play the USA national team before flying on to Japan for a two-Test series against the Brave Blossoms.
It is not just on the pitch that Ireland will be missing key personnel, defence coach Andy Farrell will also be on Lions duty this summer.
Schmidt was also sounded out about taking part, but the chance to work with some of the next generation of Ireland stars and grow the squad depth proved too good to pass up.
“A big part of the motivation for me not being involved in the Lions was going to the USA and Japan and working with this next cadre of players,” said Schmidt last autumn.
“The best of our players will go on the Lions and the more the better. That would be fantastic and hopefully a few more will put their hands up for Warren Gatland on Saturday.
“But the ones that don’t go, they will become a really interesting group for us. And for me, I want to make sure I get to know those guys.
“And getting away on tour is one of the best ways to do it.”
All eyes will be on the two-Test series against a Japan side they have beaten on all seven previous meetings.
But the most recent of those was way back in 2005 and since then Japanese rugby has been booming.
They claimed a shock upset over South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, nearly all their players now play week in and week out for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and they are building to their own World Cup in 2019.
They came mighty close to a famous result against Wales at Prinicipality Stadium in November where they lost 33-30 to a last-minute drop goal as well and Schmidt will certainly not be underestimating them.
Then in the autumn Ireland’s attentions will switch to three Tests against South Africa, a to-be-confirmed Tier Two opponent and Argentina.
Schmidt’s side claimed a famous Test win in South Africa last summer but missed out on a famous series win so revenge will be on their mind.
And the same can be said for the Pumas who knocked them out of the Rugby World Cup at the quarter-final stage two years ago.
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