This was Ireland’s wake-up call, admits Rob Kearney

All good things come to an end and for Rob Kearney, losing for the first time in 15 months and 13 Tests may be no bad thing for a core of this Ireland squad so accustomed to winning.

Second row James Ryan, for one, will have woken on Sunday now knowing exactly what defeat tastes like after a remarkable start to his professional career of 23 straight wins with Leinster and Ireland.

And it is not just the youngsters in the camp who received a wake-up call. Veteran full-back Kearney is one of a number of senior Ireland squad members for whom Saturday’s high-octane 18-9 reverse to Australia in Brisbane represented a first defeat of the season at both provincial and Test level.