Stewart taking 'each day as a learning day' and enjoying the moment 

Opportunities to impress are decreasing by the day in direct correlation to the mounting pressure. Do they dare to dream of an autumn in France or just keep the head down, ignore the noise and just enjoy the moment for what it is.

SOAKING UP INFORMATION: Tom Stewart at training camp in Portugal. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

There are 18 days to go until Andy Farrell unveils his 33-player squad to go to the 2023 World Cup in France.

For many of the 41 players currently in Ireland’s training squad, Monday, August 28 is just another date in the countdown towards the opening pool fixture against Romania, a day of review and recovery following the previous Saturday’s final run-out in Bayonne, when Samoa will provide the opposition.