Schmidt must find key to consistency as big guns lying in wait

Joe Schmidt was under no illusions as he surveyed the fast-approaching 2018 Six Nations Championship.

As encouraging as Ireland’s Guinness Series of Test matches has been this month, underlined by a jump in yesterday’s World Rugby rankings from fourth to third, the head coach is only too aware that much tougher assignments lie around the corner than the ones just negotiated.

It has undoubtedly been a good November for Ireland, with comfortable victories in successive weeks over South Africa, Fiji and Argentina achieved while introducing four debutants and adding valuable experience to the players capped for the first time on the summer tour to the United States and Japan.