It was never a matter of whether Ireland would win this encounter with an Italy side which had lost 13 Six Nations games in succession but how difficult Conor O'Shea's team would make it for the home side.

Leinster were left to rue a golden opportunity for double glory for the second year in-a-row when they lost the RaboDirect Pro12 plot in sight of the victory podium at the RDS yesterday.

IMAGINE being the footballing full-back who has to spend 90 minutes being tormented by Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo only to learn he then has to mark Barcelona’s Lionel Messi the following week.