Reality check no harm

OBVIOUSLY it didn’t really feel like it around sixty thirty last Saturday evening, but England have done us a favour. No, not the kind of favour John Humphrys might think he’s doing us when he invites us to throw in our lot with the UK or the type Theresa May might make with her fingers crossed behind her back, a real one.

Before England came to town we were in real danger of getting carried away with ourselves. There was talk of World Cup semi-finals and finals. There was talk about how Ireland might well be the best team in the world.

Regardless of our world ranking – we were top before England delivered a short sharp blow to our collective solar plexus – it was a little fanciful. There’s no harm in aiming to be the best, there is in thinking you’re there before you actually are.

Ireland – both team and sporting public at large – needed a reality check and the hoary old chariot rolled down Lansdowne Road to deliver one. Ireland are not unbeatable. Joe Schmidt is not infallible.

That said we suspect that Schmidt was merely doing what had hoped he would on these very pages last week. By starting Robbie Henshaw at full-back in a big game he was seeking to expand his and Ireland’s options ahead of the World Cup.

It didn’t work in the context of the game and of the Six Nations, but so what? Ireland’s focus must be elsewhere this year of all years. Losing to England is never pleasant – they really beat us up – but in losing to them Ireland are going to learn a hell of a lot. We’d hope that Schmidt will carrying on doing what he’s done – perhaps even making room for Ultan Dillane in the starting fifteen with Devon Toner out injured or giving Joey Carbery that start – without too much fear of the here and now. Ireland’s focus must remain firmly on the land of the rising sun.