Joe Schmidt: 'Three Championships in five years would be incredible consistency at the top level'

Schmidt is keen to get the point across that any manner of Championship title next month, Grand Slam or otherwise, would be cause for celebration.

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, writes Brendan O'Brien.

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.