Joe Schmidt: ‘We’re not happy to be where we are but we’re excited about the challenge we face’

The next month will serve as the best barometer yet as to where Ireland stands.

Ireland have won two Six Nations championships and beaten all three of the southern hemisphere giants on Joe Schmidt’s watch but the Kiwi clearly feels that the next month will serve as the best barometer yet as to where his team stands, writes Brendan O’Brien.

Touted as a hot tip for the title prior to the tournament, the defeat to Scotland has left Ireland playing catch-up. It is tantamount to knockout rugby from here on in with next weekend’s visit of France to Dublin serving as the quarter-final.