Schmidt has brought a belated professionalism to Irish test rugby

I was privileged to attend the Ireland v France Six Nations test match on February 14.

Ireland played with composure and a strategy. We are one of the best teams in the world. The attention to detail, provided and insisted upon by head coach, Joe Schmidt, and his management team, brings a belated professionalism to Irish test rugby.

In the week leading up to the French game, Schmidt had forewarned that Ireland’s attacking play would be less-than-fluid, due to the number of players returning after long absences, and so it proved to be.