A chance to lay down marker for Grand Slam

Was it a one-off, that oh-so disappointing World Cup quarter-final defeat to Wales last October, or something altogether more meaningful?

Ireland will set about Warren Gatland’s team at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow intent on trying to prove the former, thus confirming their belief that one bad day in Wellington does not a bad team make.

Talk of revenge has been downplayed throughout the build-up to this RBS 6 Nations opener but there is no doubt the manner of that 22-10, three tries to one loss on October 8 has been a source of considerable irritation since that chilly New Zealand spring evening 17 weeks ago.