TadhgBeirne enjoys the moment - but relishes the future

Ireland's Tadhg Beirne, Finlay Bealham and Dave Kilcoyne celebrate winning with the Triple Crown trophy

The thought struck as Scotland threatened to make life difficult in the second-half on Saturday that the Ireland squad would be left picking at some serious mental scars had the game turned against them at the Aviva Stadium.

Talk of a Triple Crown, a prize all but abandoned in a shoe box and confined to the attic for years up to now, had abounded all week given the likelihood that France would do what they eventually did and beat England to claim the title and Grand Slam.