Murrayfield misery still fresh in Joe Schmidt’s mind

The loss to Argentina may be the defeat that itches away at Joe Schmidt more than any other but Ireland’s defeat to Scotland at the foothills of last season’s Six Nations was, in some respects, a far more frustrating affair.

The Pumas caught an Irish side weakened by the loss of considerable experience and class due to injury and suspension when the sides met in Cardiff in 2015. Less than 18 months later and Ireland were in much finer fettle.

New Zealand had been accounted for in Chicago three months earlier and, with South Africa beaten the previous summer and the calendar year rounded off with a win over Australia, Ireland had accounted for the full set of SANZAR scalps inside six months.