Tommy Martin: Has Andy Farrell's fun factory set Ireland free?

It is very difficult to imagine a Mexican wave taking place in a Six Nations match under Joe Schmidt

Ireland’s Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, and Nick Timoney in training at Carton House. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

A funny thing happened on Ireland’s way to victory over Wales last Saturday. Around the hour mark, with the benches emptying and the game, if not quite dead, then certainly flopping about on the riverbank, a Mexican wave started.

And not just any Mexican wave either. This one was long and disturbingly persistent. It lasted beyond what might be excused as a harmless diversion during a stoppage in play. The teams had resumed pummelling each other and still the Mexican wave continued, like a big, stupid farmyard animal trampling the flowerbeds.