Joe Schmidt and Warren Gatland demonstrated their capacity for decent fends as they were quizzed on the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand.

Gatland, who steered the Lions to a 2-1 series victory over Australia in 2013, joked that his fellow New Zealander Schmidt “could have the job if he wants it”, in acknowledging a fixture schedule that sees the Lions playing their first match just a week after the Pro12 and English Premiership finals.

Schmidt for his part pointed out that his current contract with Ireland precluded him from taking up the position. "The terms of my current contract don't allow me to do the Lions, so it's actually a moot point. It doesn't distract me because it isn't actually something I can do unless the terms of my contract change. I finish at that time and there's some outside influences on that that will probably dictate anything beyond that."

Vulnerable

Gatland rubbished the notion that Ireland are vulnerable after recent retirements and injuries ahead of the two sides meeting on Sunday week.

“You have to take your hat off to Ireland in terms of they have had a gameplan and it’s been incredibly effective. It has been successful for them. Sometimes when you have come in as a coach to a team you are probably a little bit narrow and tend to expand and develop your game.

“They will go out and move the ball and potentially play more rugby. It’s hard as a coach when you have something that is working for you to go away from doing that and change a gameplan when it has been effective.

“They have coped with injuries and losing players in the past. I have learned in the past, you do not write off Ireland, you do not criticise Ireland.”