Schmidt revels in clarity of thought

Relief, massive relief. What other emotion could Joe Schmidt have been feeling?

Johnny Sexton’s monstrous drop goal, deep into added time and the conclusion of an incredible sequence of 41 phases, had rescued his previously impotent Ireland side from almost certain defeat against a scratch French side and saved this NatWest 6 Nations campaign from a fall at the first hurdle with a rare victory in Paris.

To think that Sexton, who had kicked four penalties and missed one in the 63rd minute, had come within a whisker of being replaced by inexperienced fly-half Joey Carbery after receiving treatment for cramp just a couple of minutes earlier.