77 Irish players sampled the adrenalin rush of victory last weekend — there is plenty talent out there

Maybe that agonising defeat to New Zealand has a legacy after all. At least in determining a starting point for what proved an extraordinary weekend for the Irish provinces in Europe, the All Blacks surely played their part.

Nowhere was this more evident than in Leinster’s wondrous performance against Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens when the gulf in class between the sides on the day was a yawning chasm. Is it any wonder their outstanding English flanker Tom Wood declared himself ashamed and embarrassed with their performance.

Let’s put this Saints team into context. They currently lie second in the much-hyped Aviva Premiership, two points behind leaders Saracens with eight wins and a draw from nine league outings to date. Half of their pack starred for England in a very decent autumn programme with Alex Corbisiero, Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and Wood all seen as key components in the side Stuart Lancaster is developing for the 2015 World Cup.