Time has long passed for Ireland to banish their lineout gremlins

Criticism of Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell will intensify unless lineout problems  are resolved. 

In Ireland's 20 games since the last World Cup, they've had an average lineout success of 86.3%. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Leinster’s URC tie at home to Sharks was just about done last month when Harry Byrne readied to kick a penalty to touch for one last attack. It was a nothing moment at the end of a routine win. Until the cameraman pitchside caught a close-up.

A short back and forth with Ryan Baird, garbled and indistinct as it was on TV, ended with Baird throwing his head back and uttering the f-word in what was interpreted as a despair brought on by fatigue at the fag end of a hefty 80-minute shift.