Joe Schmidt now faces the biggest challenge of his coaching career

Since the advent of professionalism and the rise in the status of the Rugby World Cup after its rushed introduction in 1987 against the wishes of the four unions in Britain and Ireland, the sport at international level now tends to operate in four-year cycles.

The completion of every tournament is greeted with a raft of international retirements with our own Rory Best and Italian captain Sergio Parisse amongst a swathe of high profile, multi capped leaders ready to depart the stage after the completion of their involvement here in Japan.