“There are certain things that we need to do well to play well.”

Ulster 21 Leinster 24: A little half-time word in the ears of his charges gave new Leinster head coach Leo Cullen a perfect start to his tenure with what was in the end a comfortable warm-up victory over Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium last night.

Jonathan Sexton has no doubt Ireland’s best is yet to come as they approach the Rugby World Cup and the out-half believes the team can do just that by embracing the attacking approach that cut Scotland to shreds last March and retained the Six Nations title.

Ireland 28 Scotland 22: Though a myriad of questions remain to be answered, Saturday’s run against the Scots seemed to confirm that, for some, it all but marked the beginning of the end of their World Cup ambitions.

This time 12 months ago Jack Conan’s focus hardly strayed further than earning a second provincial cap.

For all the talk about Ian Madigan’s worth as an out-half, there haven’t actually been many opportunities to judge his abilities in the position of late.

For Gordon D’Arcy today could mark the end, for Jack Conan it is a beginning and for Sean O’Brien it is merely another peak in a remarkable international career.

Scotland may be the opposition as Ireland continue their World Cup preparations in this the second of four rehearsals, but the standout performances of so many of their colleagues in Cardiff last week will serve as just a useful barometer for many of those wearing green today.

Ireland step back into the lion’s den today as they revisit a sold-out Millennium Stadium for the second time in five months, with a closed roof not the only difference between then and now.