Plenty to be getting on with

DESPITE the victory, it was impossible not to feel a sense of disappointment leaving the Aviva Stadium yesterday.

Ireland did everything asked of them against opposition that have always proved difficult to play against. Thank god we don’t have to watch them every week.

Yes, the autumn series of games has been instructive in ways, but it is hard to escape the feeling 10 months out from the World Cup that the big three from the southern hemisphere are that bit ahead of the rest. While they certainly championed the changes in law interpretation, it is also fair to say that New Zealand, Australia and South Africa are far more ruthless and clinical when it comes to exposing weaknesses and punishing opposition shortcomings.