Donal Lenihan: Imperative Ireland forget the black and focus on the blue

Memories are for retirement. Lose to Scotland on Saturday night, or to New Zealand in a quarter final, and the events surrounding that Paris pool win over the Springboks will be tinged with regret

PRIORITIES MUST BE RIGHT: Head coach Andy Farrell must ensure minds are firmly fixed on the task at hand. ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

LET the giddiness abate. For all kinds of reasons, Ireland’s two-week break at this Rugby World Cup could not have come at a better time.

The last active involvement for the Irish squad was conducting a lap of honour around the Stade de France after their outstanding win over reigning World Cup champions South Africa, Ireland’s greatest win since the tournament inception in 1987. The players deserved to celebrate an epic moment in Irish rugby history.