This time, Schmidt’s selection posers are mostly good ones

With qualification for the knockout phase secured after an Ireland performance more in keeping with what we have come to expect from this squad, the only outstanding issue surrounded the not insignificant detail as to whom Ireland would meet in their quarter-final in Tokyo next weekend.

If Japan’s game against Scotland became the fourth to be cancelled due to the devastating impact of Typhoon Hagibis, it would have left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth, not least the Scots.