Long learning process goes on for Joe Schmidt and his team

SOUTH AFRICA 19 IRELAND 13: Like a blow to the solar plexus, this was a punch that will take some getting over for Joe Schmidt and his Ireland team.

Yet much like that other great heartbreak of his tenure with the national team, the head coach is convinced this narrow series defeat to South Africa can be a significant building block to long-standing success.

This was another one that got away for Ireland, just like that November 2013 day when the All Blacks mugged Schmidt’s team at the death in the Aviva Stadium, denying Ireland an historic first victory over New Zealand.