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. 

Three key issues to decide the Pro12 final

How appropriate the two sides finishing first and second in the regular season contest the Guinness Pro 12 final in Belfast next Saturday. Like the league, both semi-finals went to the wire with a single score separating the teams after two great clashes over the weekend.

Saturday’s Champions Cup final proved a far better game than anticipated in advance. 

Before looking forward to the inaugural Champions Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday, I feel compelled to examine the implications of an announcement last week that attracted minimal attention on this side of the world.