Joe Schmidt’s pool deepened ahead of big test against France

Ireland 28 Argentina 19: Another Guinness Series in the books, a handful of new Ireland caps and three satisfying if not perfect victories for Joe Schmidt to ponder before he gets his players back to build for the 2018 Six Nations.

As soon as the final whistle blew at Aviva Stadium on Saturday night, thoughts were turning to the Championship, which for the Irish starts in 10 weeks with a return to Stade de France. As we have come to expect from the head coach after five years in charge of the national team, Schmidt has been in Six Nations mode for quite some time already, his mind turning over the trip to Paris on February 2 as far back as the summer.

As the November window closed with this victory over Argentina, to add to those this month over South Africa and Fiji, he can now look at the forthcoming competition with a degree of confidence.