Schmidt meant business with the hardest fitness drill Best had ever seen

If Rory Best was in any doubt over his physical fitness at the grand old age of 37, then a Joe Schmidt training ground special in Portugal put an end to such thoughts.

Picture the scene; the forwards leaving the gym after shifting some iron around, walking out into the blistering sunshine and expecting a handy 45 minutes or so passing the ball around — “some skills, you know, nice and fluffy”, Best said.