Rhys Ruddock bore the air of a man intent on looking straight ahead as he spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup opener against Benetton.

This was a game that Ireland could not afford to labour in, but labour they did all the same.

60 second on-the-whistle report from Kobe as Ireland secure bonus-point victory over Russia

Ireland got the bonus-point victory expected of them as they took a welcome step towards the World Cup quarter-finals on Thursday but this was not the bounce-back performance required following last Saturday’s defeat to Japan.

A moment, please, to think of the poor old referee today.

Here’s how the players rated in the aftermath of a hugely disappointing result and performance for Ireland in Shizuoka.

It's 10 years since Ciaran and Rhys Ruddock were part of a talented Ireland U20s side that travelled to Japan to compete in the Junior World Cup.

Jean Kleyn: No matter what Agustin Pichot thinks, the South African-born Munster lock has qualified by right and earned his place the hard way after three years of acclimatisation in Limerick.

In another unexpected move, head coach Schmidt preferred Luke McGrath as his back-up scrum-half over Conor Murray’s long-standing number two Kieran Marmion.

Eddie Jones may well be showing his World Cup hand a month early when he unveils his 31-man England squad for Japan today but the final cut can wait for Joe Schmidt and his Ireland selection permutations.

As Leinster and Munster discovered to their cost in Europe this past month, knowing the threat that is coming your way and being able to deal with it are different matters entirely.

Rhys Ruddock and Seán Cronin have emerged as serious doubts for Leinster’s Champions Cup final next month.

Munster fans may watch tonight’s PRO14 clash between Edinburgh and Leinster with more intensity than supporters of the visiting side at Murrayfield.

The powerbrokers of world rugby converge on Dublin today with their agenda dominated by the biggest single offer in the history of the sport — £500m (€585m) for a 30% stake in the Six Nations.

If the Cheetahs thought they might get an easy run out against Leinster during the Six Nations, the South Africans were sadly mistaken.

Rhys Ruddock looks set to miss Ireland's Six Nations match against Italy in Rome on Sunday.

You would imagine Chicago will hold a special place in Tadhg Beirne’s heart for quite some time after his double try-scoring first start for Ireland at the weekend.

The victory was emphatic as Ireland routed Italy by eight tries to one at Soldier Field on Saturday. Yet while the performance was far from perfect that was exactly what Joe Schmidt expected when he selected a young side for this mission.

To his team-mates, Ian McKinley is an inspiration, but as the Irishman turned Italian prepares to face his old friends at Soldier Field, this Saturday’s Test is not about him but the Azzurri doing themselves proud against Six Nations rivals.

The moment Leinster fought tooth and nail to avoid late last season, the one they dreaded, will come to pass this Saturday evening if Joey Carbery gets the nod to start for Munster against his old club at the Aviva Stadium.

Scarlets held on to win an intense, hard-fought Guinness PRO14 clash against champions Leinster at Parc y Scarlets.

As predicted, the Ulster Bank League final at the Aviva Stadium went down to the wire. The game was on a knife edge right to the end and Lansdowne finally realised the dream of a national league and cup double at the expense of Cork Constitution.

Mike Ruddock believes a head-to-head between two Corkmen will be pivotal in settling the battle of Lansdowne and Cork Constitution in the Ulster Bank League season finale at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday (3pm).

Leinster started the season with 14 players who could conceivably feature in their back row and yet they badly need three of their most prominent practitioners to return to fitness in time for Sunday’s European quarter-final against Saracens.

If it’s Ireland-Wales in the Six Nations then chances are Rhys Ruddock will be nudged in front of the media at some point or other in the week leading up to it — the Leinster back row’s current absence through injury didn’t change that yesterday.

Joe Schmidt was true to his word that the Six Nations is no place for experimentation as he named an experienced squad for next month’s opening games of the championship, although there was one notable and welcome exception.

Talk of revenge for Cardiff two years ago will fill many a column inch between now and Ireland’s meeting with Argentina on Saturday, but CJ Stander insists it isn’t a primary motivation for Joe Schmidt and his squad.

Ireland made 13 changes from last weekend's record 38-3 victory over South Africa, and endured some nervy moments en route to their slender win over the eye-catching Pacific Islanders.

Joe Schmidt knows the risks he is taking by selecting such an inexperienced side to face Fiji this evening but if it means Ireland are better prepared at the 2019 World Cup then the end will have justified the means.

Rhys Ruddock is Ireland’s most recent Test captain and a winning one at that, yet the versatile back rower knows better than most that selection for the next international is never guaranteed.

Dan Leavy isn’t the patient type.

Leinster weathered the huge hits and the heavy bruising from Montpellier’s giants on Saturday – but the five points are what will leave the biggest mark after a winning start to their Champions Cup challenge.

Cheetahs 38 Leinster 19: So much for the failed experiment, the useless additions, the pointless expansion.

Johne Murphy has quickly established his credentials as a coach just two years after signing off on a memorable career that saw him play over 200 top class games for Leicester, Munster, Emerging Ireland and the Wolfhounds.

Three tries in eight stunning minutes helped Leinster to a bonus point win over Cardiff Blues at the RDS.

Joe Schmidt decided Rhys Ruddock was the obvious man to be promoted from the ranks earlier this summer when the Lions expedition relieved him of his usual on-field generals for the tour to the USA and Japan.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt was relieved to see his side clinch a hard-fought 35-13 victory over Japan at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo.

An outright ban on fracking in Ireland has moved a step closer.

Joey Carbery will make his first start at full-back for Leinster in their Guinness PRO12 visit to Dragons tonight.

Leinster 70 Zebre 6: Leinster had the game done and dusted by the time the returning Johnny Sexton left the field last night, on 55 minutes.

Leo Cullen has played down fears of Johnny Sexton being forced to take an extended break from rugby, with the Leinster head coach suggesting the 31-year-old will be out of action for around three to four weeks.