The Andy Farrell factor can now be of benefit to Ireland

AN England Grand Slam only five months after their rugby world fell apart in their own global tournament just serves to show once again that, in sport, the pain of calamitous defeat can serve to inspire new beginnings.

After two years at the top of the European rugby pyramid, Ireland have been forced to regroup after a very demanding period when resources were pushed to the limit. In adversity and with the pressure mounting after a winless opening three games, the back-to -back champions regrouped — admittedly against opposition of lesser quality — to deliver a morale-boosting finish to the championship.

Joe Schmidt is extremely good at achieving his goals, even if this was one that he hoped to surpass. Predicting a mid-table finish amid the clamour for a record third consecutive Six Nations on the bounce wasn’t, you sense, put out there as a means of dampening expectations. It was a realistic assessment of where his side stood shorn of some key individuals and, of even more importance, proven leaders.