Joe might not agree but ultimately only one stat matters

It may have been deep into November 2016 but Rugby Country was wrapped in a warm glow of satisfaction as the curtain came down on a year in which Ireland had counted South Africa, New Zealand and Australia among its victims.

There were few dissenting voices to the positivity that attached itself to Joe Schmidt’s side at the time so Eddie O’Sullivan’s take on the influence of new defence coach Andy Farrell struck a discordant tone.

“I think it’s overrated, to be honest,” he told Newstalk of the Englishman’s influence on the Irish rearguard. “The big take from our defence during the autumn has been our discipline has been extraordinary.