Little will be learned in Argentina

The domestic season may be over but rugby fans across Europe will be challenged to keep up with the volume of test matches over the next three weeks as end-of-term tours come sharply into focus.

The tour schedule has been unkind to Ireland again as this is one of those years when the Irish management would benefit more from an assignment against one of the southern hemisphere’s big three in South Africa, New Zealand or Australia. As Six Nations champions, with no side contesting a European final and Leinster our sole representative in the Pro12 decider, such an outing would have provided the perfect series for Joe Schmidt to really test the mettle of his squad 16 months out from the World Cup.

The last time Ireland had such a tour, that rollercoaster three-test series against the All Blacks in 2012, they were on their last legs at the end of a long season that had already incorporated a trip to New Zealand for the 2011 World Cup. As luck would have it, Ireland’s next examination at that level comes in the summer after the 2015 World Cup, when they are scheduled to tour South Africa. Once again, the timing couldn’t be worse.