Ireland may have to endure some November pain

Time to catch breath. The four provinces may seek to further PRO12 ambitions over the course of the weekend in the RDS, Kingspan Stadium, Liberty Stadium and the Arms Park but, for the rest of us, this is the period before the storm that is the November internationals and after the changeable few weeks that made up the opening two rounds of the inaugural Rugby Champions Cup.

The new European gig was gripping at times but it did little to divert the impression the provinces are slipping under the shadow of an Ireland team on the up and one that now finds itself prepping for the arrivals of South Africa, Georgia and Australia.