Ireland need all the help they can get

Ireland have been here before, unfortunately with unnerving regularity.

Brian O’Driscoll started his Test career against the world champions-in-waiting Australia, on June 12, 1999 and was on the receiving end of a 36-point hammering in Brisbane.

Thirteen years later and with a wealth of touring experience under his belt, he is entitled to think that things should have moved on. Yet all he has to show for a truck load of expeditions to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa over that period are two wins over the Wallabies, one with Ireland at the last World Cup and an opening Test victory with the Lions 11 years ago.