Brave new world as rugby makes a pitch for astroturf

So, all’s well that ends well, then, right?

That seemed to be the overriding sentiment after Ireland’s unexpected rout of Argentina six days ago but a more subjective and wide-ranging retrospective on November’s Test action makes for less comforting conclusions.

Once again, it was a case of Europe’s finest playing second best to the southern hemisphere with the standings showing 11 wins for the ‘visitors’ to just six for the hosts, and with New Zealand and Australia fancied to further that gap when they face England and Wales tomorrow.