McCarthy says there are positives to work on after ‘battling’ display

In a parallel universe somewhere, Ireland won that Test match on Saturday night and Mike McCarthy’s brutal hit on Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth just after half-time is being played on the loop on a triumphal highlights reel.

Here, closer to home, it’s impact has been softened considerably by a fifth straight Test defeat and it was a loss where early momentum was squandered and Declan Kidney’s side failed to score for the last 50 minutes.

Same old story, really.