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The former Auckland Blues assistant coach has spent the past four seasons as backs coach at newly-crowned French champions ASM Clermont Auvergne, finally delivering the Bouclier de Brennus after three agonising seasons as the Top 14 bridesmaids.
There was success in Europe in the Challenge Cup in 2007 and a quarter-final berth in the Heineken Cup last season - against Leinster in Dublin. That ended with a 29-28 defeat at his new home, the RDS, and more than a few thoughts about what might have been as Clermont left 26 potential points in kicks on the field.
"What a Pool to be in - Leinster reached the Magners League Grand Final, Clermont are the French champions, Saracens all but won the Guinness Premiership final and Racing-Metro, who Clermont only just beat 21-17 in the Top 14 play-offs," said Schmidt.
"I'm not sure how these draws are made, but I just seem to get the hard ones. In my first season in the Heineken Cup Clermont were drawn with Munster, London Wasps and a Scarlets side that had gone unbeaten through to the semi-finals the previous season.
"Then last season we had the Ospreys and Leicester Tigers to contend with. Now I find myself back in one of those 'Pools of Death' again.
"Leinster had London Irish (3rd in England), Brive (6th in France) and the Scarlets (5th in Celtic League). Now look at what we've got.
"I would certainly have preferred to have missed the French champions, who left 26 points behind them on their last trip to Dublin and outscored Leinster by three tries to two.
"It is going to be a great Pool for the spectators and the tournament as a whole, but for the coaches it isn't a friendly draw and it is going to be pretty tough. I obviously know the Clermont team very well and it will be nice to link up with them again - I just wish it hadn't have been quite so quickly."
As for Clermont, team manager Neil McIlroy admitted his side will be keen to avenge last season's single-point defeat by Leinster in the quarter-finals.
"One kick would have made all the difference in Leinster and probably put us through to the semi-finals. We felt that if we had had a home draw we would have gone through," said McIlroy.
"But we still feel we laid down another marker in Europe last season and winning the French Championship will have done wonders for our confidence. We know Leinster in particular will present us with a huge challenge, but there are no easy matches in the Pool.
"The games against Leinster will have extra interest and spice because Joe will be coaching them."
