Donal Lenihan: Awful game, but sleep soundly that Ireland are nowhere near their peak

Despite being ranked the number one side in the game, Ireland can and will have to play far better than this.

ON THE LINE: Ireland’s Mack Hansen makes an offload to Jamison Gibson-Park

There was a time when beating one of New Zealand, Australia or South Africa would make for a fantastic season's work. It shows just how far Andy Farrell’s men have travelled that they beat all three in the same calendar year yet finish the period slightly disappointed, knowing they can perform so much better.

For some time now, stretching back to when Joe Schmidt assumed control of the national side, Ireland have been breaking new ground on a number of fronts with all three Southern Hemisphere giants being defeated on their home patch since 2016 and culminating in that historic series win in New Zealand last summer.