Everything Leinster have done since January has been geared towards arriving at this stage of the season in the best possible shape to atone for the disappointment of the last three years

In years to come, many of the young boys and girls in tears when Conor Murray and Ben Healy had the misfortune to miss their kicks in the dreaded penalty shootout, will relay to their own kids that they were in Lansdowne Road that day

Watching Limerick's beasts in green at the same venue last weekend left me wondering how they had escaped the clutches of Munster

My only reservation, apart from the fact that he’s never operated as head coach before, is that this doesn’t amount to an appointment of convenience as the only member of the existing coaching set up still in situ.

They return from Exeter clear in the knowledge that they are more than capable of beating the Chiefs and overtaking that points differential to secure qualification to the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup

Andy Farrell's side achieved so much more than just the numbers on the Six Nations table. Here's a look at some of the highlights of Ireland's spring

The fact that Ireland lost three of their first choice front five has shone a light on a key area requiring the emergence of more depth 

Like the French in Cardiff, Ireland will be better for coming through such a serious test

Ireland have only lost once - to France - in their last 11 games played since developing a more high tempo, wide attacking game, predicated on keeping the ball alive in the tackle and utilizing two distinct lines of attack with a number of key forwards now comfortable acting as an attacking pivot.

Many is the time I climbed into a Dublin taxi for the driver to ask the question. You could see it coming. “Do you mind if I ask you a question. Who do you prefer playing with, Ward or Campbell?”