Just as well Ireland’s player options run deep

It’s less than a decade since Declan Kidney’s Irish team secured that famous Grand Slam but it may as well be a page ripped out of an ancient history textbook as Joe Schmidt’s current generation of players go about writing their own chapters.

Only the odd link remains.

Rob Kearney was, as he is now, the full-back of choice. Rory Best, captain of the current crop, was a reservist for whom most work was done as part of the second wave.