Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton: Ireland's perfect tandem rides again

Ireland 19 France 9: And so to Cardiff, where Ireland have experienced both the best and worst of times in recent years, but can look upon their next visit with renewed optimism now Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton are back in business.

A trip to the Millennium Stadium, now renamed the Principality, is always a daunting prospect and a Friday night showdown with Wales on March 10 will only intensify the red-hot atmosphere this cauldron of an arena so often generates.

Yet Saturday evening’s resumption of the Murray-Sexton axis at Ireland’s playmaking hub was a key indicator that head coach Joe Schmidt has the leadership and maturity in this key area to execute his gameplan in even the most febrile of environments.