Schmidt has an amazing eye for detail - Dermody

Ulster forwards coach Clarke Dermody has praised Joe Schmidt's "amazing eye for detail" as he settles into his role at the Affidea Stadium.

Former New Zealand prop Dermody arrived from Super Rugby side Highlanders to replace Jimmy Duffy on Richie Murphy's coaching team.

Compatriot and former Ireland head coach Schmidt also arrived at the province this summer to take up the consultancy role of coach development adviser, following a spell as head coach with Australia.

While Schmidt's remit is the development of coaches across the province, Dermody says it is "awesome" to have him around the club as they prepare for the new season.

"A world-renowned coach with an amazing eye for detail," Dermody said of Schmidt when speaking to BBC Sport NI's Nicola McCarthy.

"He looks at the game differently to potentially everyone else. He's not the guy to push that on you, but if you're willing to ask, he's willing to give you that time and not say 'you must do it like this', but he has some ideas around the game.

"To have him around the club is awesome and I know it means a lot to the club for him to come in and spend time working with the youth and the pathways, but around enough for anyone else to rub shoulders with anyone who will want to."

Dermody joked that his main job is to "halve the scrum penalties" Ulster conceded last season, but is happy with what he has seen from the squad so far.

Ulster scored a narrow win over Edinburgh in a pre-season fixture last weekend and will host Ospreys on Friday [19:45 BST] in their final warm-up game before the United Rugby Championship [URC] begins at home to Edinburgh on 25 September.

Although Ulster had a disappointing finish to last season with defeat by Montpellier in the Challenge Cup final and a ninth-place finish in the URC seeing them miss out on the playoffs and a place in the Champions Cup, Dermody feels "the building blocks are there" to push on.

"While it was a tough end to the season, being able to put yourself in a final has to be commended," he added.

"I think there's enough excitement around that to kick-start the season.

"We aren't going to win every game, but there are a lot of games that were close enough to grab a few points that would have made the standing in the table at the end of the season different."

Dermody, who faced Ulster during his playing days with London Irish, recalls an "extremely hard team to beat" and feels getting it right in the forwards is crucial to compliment their attacking play.

"The style of play has changed a wee bit, but I think it would be remiss to overlook the need to express that physicality in the forwards," he continued.

"If you're in most games and the opposition walk off feeling that, you're in a good place."