Ireland's World Cup planning: How to escape the cycle of boom to bust?

Ireland have secured plenty of big name scalps in autumn internationals - but why then have they failed to repeat such performances in the Rugby World Cup?

Ireland’s Robbie Henshaw is dejected after Ireland’s defeat to New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup quarter-final in Tokyo. Picture: Inpho/Billy Stickland

And so, here we are, at the midway point.

However long ago you now feel Japan was, France will be here just as fast or as slow.