Resilience at the core of Ireland’s Grand Slam heroics

The celebrations of Ireland’s Grand Slam will continue a little while longer but even in the immediate aftermath of victory at Twickenham, thoughts were turning to what happens next.

How do you follow that? It is a pertinent question given the magnificent style in which Joe Schmidt’s team first salvaged victory in Paris and then romped to Six Nations glory with three bonus-point home wins before saving the best for last with their ruthless dismantling of England to land a clean sweep in majestic style.

Yet follow that Ireland must with the 2019 World Cup in Japan the clear and obvious next peak to scale. There are 18 months, 552 days to be precise, before Schmidt’s team opens its Pool A campaign in Yokohama against Six Nations rivals Scotland.