ANALYSIS of Ireland’s encouraging start to World Cup 2015 has to be put on temporary hold as a consequence of what Japan achieved in defeating the most experienced South African side ever fielded when the sides met at Brighton Community Stadium on Saturday.

Irish Examiner rugby columnist, Donal Lenihan, highlights the things to look out for as you enjoy the opening weekend of Rugby World Cup 2015.

If the London Olympics of four years ago is the yardstick by which the Rugby World Cup is to be judged then the tournament organisers have set themselves an incredibly high standard.

How quickly things change. Back-to-back Six Nations champions Ireland appeared in rude health heading into this World Cup when they dispatched Wales with consummate ease only four weeks ago.

Joe Schmidt has never been one to shirk the difficult decisions. If anything, he has a reputation for being direct and letting players know exactly where they stand and what is expected of them.

August 31 is a date that has loomed large in Joe Schmidt’s thought process for some time now.

As a learning exercise, Saturday’s fraught encounter against Scotland was far more beneficial for Ireland than the rather benign Welsh clash the previous week. Put it this way: Joe Schmidt will have gleaned much and identified far more ‘work-ons’ to keep him busy over the next fortnight.

A strange few days in many ways. New Zealand beaten for only the third time since lifting the 2011 World Cup, confirming you shouldn’t write off the Wallabies approaching next month’s global showpiece tournament.

In the end, joy and elation for a long-serving second row stalwart, but not the one we had hoped for. 

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