Ireland's comfort in adversity a sign of a new normal for Farrell's men 

GRINDING IT OUT: Ireland’s Johnny Sexton and Josh van der Flier celebrate winning. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Andy Farrell walked into the Irish dressing-room on Sunday and spoke with a calmness that belied the chaos that had engulfed his team. He had spoken repeatedly about the need for his Irish team to be poked and prodded and teased by rugby’s capriciousness and this was the game in all its madness. This was that.

This was the ultimate adversity, the most punishing of stress tests.