“People were raving afterwards about Tommy Craig. He has great skill and he is strong… When you are watching a game it looks like he’s making a great contribution. But that is on the premise that what he is doing on the ball is what it’s about at that level. And it is not. Maybe it should be. It would be nice if it were.

Attempts at fusion can be deadly. But when it comes off, a great light is shone.

Yesterday, the Irish team were afforded a day off. Most of the media, however, weren’t.