Ireland's Chicago clash against Italy triggers World Cup countdown

You can look at tonight’s Test between Ireland and Italy any way you like but do not tell Joe Schmidt and his team this is anything but an important moment in their careers as a World Cup looms large just 10 months from now.

Another detour to Chicago, two years on from a history-making day against the All Blacks, ahead of the Guinness Series on home soil has been described in some quarters as a money spinner and a contractual obligation.