Paul O'Connell claims 'inconsistent' Ireland not at level of 2022/23 vintage

O’Connell kept that spinning coaches chair warm for Tests against Georgia and Portugal this year. The elevation gave him new perspectives

Forwards coach Paul O'Connell during Ireland Rugby squad training at SeatGeek Stadium in Chicago, USA. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

In the hectic, harried world of international rugby, nine years is a lifetime. Yet narrowing things down to nine games doesn’t help much either. On Saturday in Chicago, Ireland’s coaching staff will stand for the anthems and then move the musical chairs one more time.

Having had Andy Farrell, then Simon Easterby, then Paul O’Connell in the biggest chair, Farrell will re-assume his spot and, nine games later, Ireland will be back where they started.