IRELAND found the transition of going from hunters to hunted uncomfortable in the Six Nations, and no-one more so than Johnny Sexton.
The Irish fly-half, who will be 34 by the time the World Cup kicks off, lost some of the gloss and precision from his game during the tournament, raising fears among his countrymen that time is starting to catch up with him.
Just like the all-conquering England side in 2016, Ireland’s 2018 Grand Slammers discovered this season that sustained success is an elusive beast when the injury list grows and inspirational players like Sexton begin to look jaded....