Ireland forwards coach Paul O’Connell said he expects three-time Six Nations winner Joe Schmidt to raise Australia from their slump. Former Ireland boss Schmidt was appointed by the Wallabies in January following World Cup humiliation which saw them dumped out at the pool stage in France.

It’s doubtful that Paul O’Connell has many regrets about his illustrious playing career, yet one suspects that he would have loved another few years playing for Ireland under Joe Schmidt.

The affable Canberran was in the coaches' box at Croker for that seismic Munster v Leinster showdown in 2009 and, 15 years later, he's back in Dublin - this time alongside Joe Schmidt, not against him