The losing feeling doesn’t get any easier for Schmidt

Joe Schmidt admitted he had spent the week reflecting on Ireland’s poor performance against England, but has selected the right side to get the Guinness Six Nations defending champions back on track in Scotland tomorrow.

Defeats have not happened too often on this head coach’s watch over the past six seasons but for a man determined to drive his players onward to greater performances, last weekend’s opening-round reverse at home to a powerhouse English side was a bitter pill to swallow.