There is a small window every September when every rugby team in Ireland is perfect. The new jerseys are still in their plastic and nobody has missed a tackle since June. Teams have trained well for weeks in pre-season, albeit against themselves. Last season’s performances have been filed away between “learning experience” and “things we don’t talk about”. It is also peak season for pundit and fan prophecy. The prophets of doom have done their sums already. The new signing is not what the team needs, the squad depth is a disgrace, the new academy kid is two years away…

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