Constant Kiss sees positive in Irish evolution

December. In rugby terms, it means little.

A cursory nod to Christmas besides, it is business as usual. Training trundles on through the festive season. Players play, coaches coach and, overlooking it all as per usual, is one man at the top of this particular family tree.

That was Declan Kidney 12 months ago. Not anymore. A new head coach tends to bear witness to traumatic times all by itself but Kidney’s departure and Joe Schmidt’s accession to the throne was, in this instance, merely one tremor in a calendar year when the national team was shaken to its foundations.