Ireland struggling with skills required for new age rugby

WITH every international team of note performing on European soil over the past few weeks, Ireland has been afforded the opportunity of assessing its current standing on the world stage.

Unfortunately, by way of comparison, we look staid.

Despite fielding third-choice selections in some positions, New Zealand still secured their much-coveted grand slam against Scotland on Saturday. That victory confirmed their ranking as the number one side on the planet.