Next job: Putting a lid on soaring expectations

NOW that’s what I call a test match. Such was the intensity, endeavour and commitment to keeping the ball alive that the opening half of Saturday’s memorable clash passed in a flash. There were so many moments of brilliance in that period alone, those in the stands barely had time to draw breath.

By the time the teams called a temporary cessation to proceeding at the halfway mark, we had already savoured a 40-point thriller. Even then, nothing separated the two teams.

That in itself was remarkable given Joe Schmidt’s men had raced into a 17-point lead in as many minutes, only for Australia to respond with 20 unanswered points of their own in the following 20-minute period.