Donal Lenihan: Hard work starts now, but this time Ireland carry no baggage into quarters

The only downside on the night was a worrying injury toll with both wingers, Mack Hansen and James Lowe, absent for the entire second half

JOB WELL DONE: Garry Ringrose of Ireland, left, is congratulated by teammate Bundee Aki after scoring his side's sixth try against Scotland. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The hard work starts in earnest from here on in. Topping their pool at the 2011 and 2015 World Cup tournaments meant nothing from an Irish perspective when it came to the quarter-finals where Wales and Argentina were waiting in ambush.

Last time out, finishing runners up in Pool A to Japan had more of a psychological impact than we appreciated at the time. That 19-12 defeat by the hosts in Shizuoka had taken a toll. New Zealand smelt vulnerability within the Irish ranks and produced a typically ruthless performance to overwhelm Joe Schmidt’s men 46-14 in Tokyo.