Joe: Titles outweigh our grand ambitions

Joe Schmidt understands the unique hold that a possible Grand Slam has over the collective consciousness but the Ireland coach is keen to get the point across that any manner of Championship title next month would be cause for celebration.

The former Leinster coach has won two Six Nations titles with the national team, in 2014 and the year after, but neither is celebrated anything like the 2009 success, claimed by a team under Declan Kidney which won all five games.

The current boss was an assistant coach under Vern Cotter at Clermont Auvergne back then but he still felt close enough to the story to appreciate the fairytale ending. “What’s rare is beautiful,” he said, alluding to the fact Ireland have only ever claimed two.