HUGH FARRELLY ON HOW OUR WORLD CUP DREAMS SHAPE UP NOW —

Grand Slam euphoria must be backed up in 2019 as Ireland prepare to set the...

THERE is only one more peak left to scale now. The euphoria of Ireland’s Grand Slam glory will last for a while yet but the nature of this achievement was so compelling, so brilliantly conceived and executed, that it is impossible not to dwell on how high Joe Schmidt can bring this Irish team.

His is a story of incremental progression and landmark success. Ireland’s first win in South Africa was followed by the historic debut victory over New Zealand; his three Six Nations titles in four years were augmented by the annexing of a Grand Slam Ireland had only managed to claim twice in the preceding 70 years.

It has been a remarkable rise for Schmidt and his team and there is only one significant flag left to plant — the one that marks meaningful achievement at a World Cup.

Clive Woodward, England’s World Cup-winning coach from 2003, put it in pretty stark terms in these pages last Saturday.

‘Ireland are thoroughly good value for their No2 world ranking,’ wrote Woodward, ‘but the bottom line is they have been massive underachievers at the World Cup.’ There is no arguing with that. Not managing to reach a World Cup semi-final in the eight tournaments since 1987 is an enormous blot on Irish rugby’s CV — particularly when you consider Argentina (twice), Wales (twice) and Scotland have all made it that far.

Ireland have had very good teams in that period which have vanished into a Bermuda Triangle of bungling on world rugby’s biggest stage and Schmidt was caught up in the curse in 2015 when injury and flaccid defence undid them in the quarter-final against Argentina.

But that harsh lesson has been well learnt, based on how Schmidt swiftly remodelled his defence with the acquisition of Andy Farrell while making it his mission to develop depth to the point where there are quality options in every position.

The truly exciting aspect is the age profile of the players coming through.

Youngsters like James Ryan, Jacob Stockdale Andrew Porter, Dan Leavy, Garry Ringrose, Joey Carbery and Jordan Larmour made significant contributions to Ireland’s success and, on the assumption that they will improve with experience, how good will they be when the World Cup kicks off in 18 months?

The 30- something brigade of captain Rory Best, Rob Kearney, Keith Earls, Devin Toner and Johnny Sexton had big tournaments alongside this new wave and the importance of managing them, and Sean O’Brien, through to Japan 2019 is now a priority.

Ireland under Schmidt are constantly evolving in terms of personnel and the summer tour to Australia and November internationals offer further opportunities to cover all selection bases.

Tactically, Schmidt has proven he is managing a team capable of mixing it up as the occasion or opposition demands.

Ireland can play a direct, pragmatic, hard- carrying style, be more expansive when they need to be, or look to their kicking game to put teams under pressure (as they did with Sexton’s sublime garryowen leading to the opening try against England for Garry Ringrose last Saturday).

Factor in an impressive set-piece, superb ruck technique and a level of discipline that gave Ireland a decisive advantage over all their Six Nations opponents and, in terms of gameplan, Ireland have established a template capable of taking on and beating anyone — including New Zealand.

The one caveat that followed Ireland throughout this championship, raising its head in every outing, was defensive vulnerability out wide. Even as England were obliterated in Twickenham on Saturday, Ireland were beaten for three tries on the edges.

However, Ireland were not hamstrung by their occasional lapses in this area and have time to sort it out — starting against a Wallabies side this summer will test them out wide through the series.

Put it all together and Schmidt has Ireland incredibly well set for the World Cup.

So much so there is a sense of regret that Schmidt and his men cannot go straight from this Six Nations into rugby’s flagship tournament instead of having to wait for another year and a half.

The flip side to that regret is the scope for the further improvement that time lag allows, and, with the Grand Slam box ticked, it is time to start thinking really big.

That arrives with the caution of bitter experience attached — notably Ireland’s harrowing 2007 experience where pre-tournament bullishness was met with t otal implosion — but it is now possible to talk about not only reaching a first semi-final but actually winning the tournament.

That is not hyperbole, that is a statement based on the hard evidence of recent achievement and tangible progress under Schmidt — with the prospect of more to come.

Schmidt will not abandon the policy of planning meticulously for each immediate challenge, starting with the summer series in Australia, that has served him and Ireland so well.

But, within those prerogatives, Schmidt is building all the time and that is what makes this story so exciting.

The World Cup is the final peak to conquer and Ireland have proven they are capable of planting their flag at the summit.

“With the Grand Slam box ticked it’s time to start thinking big”