Ten points and top of the table

That 89,019 would turn up for New Zealand’s opening game against a quality Argentinean side is understandable in a tournament of this nature, but a capacity showing of 89,267 for Ireland-Romania says so much more. In many respects, it was one of the many sideshows revolving around this game as the outcome was never going to yield anything other than a comprehensive victory for Ireland.
So two weeks into the tournament and Joe Schmidt is in the happy position of giving game time to 30 of his 31-man squad with Robbie Henshaw hopefully set to make it a full house when it was declared yesterday he is all but certain to feature against Italy next Sunday at yet another iconic venue, London’s Olympic Stadium.