Now begins race for World Cup rugby selection

Dawn broke yesterday morning and with it the realisation there are still up to 10 weeks of club rugby to be negotiated before Ireland’s Six Nations champions and their contemporaries around the provinces can clock off for a summer break.

For those who played only bit parts in Saturday’s defeat of Scotland, this week brings with it the promise of yet more training and, more importantly, more match time as Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht return to PRO12 action next Friday and Saturday.

And then there are those who spent Ireland’s match days on the outside looking in — of which there are many.