By Peter Jackson

For far too long yesterday, Joe Schmidt threatened to send his protege off on Lions’ business accompanied by the hissing sound from a barrage of lead balloons falling all over Dublin.

Andy Farrell hardly needed to be warned that Ireland’s favourite New Zealander, back in the city where he presided over so many historic victories, would have a trick or two up his sleeve.
Nobody, however, imagined that he would dare to turn the rugby world upside down in one afternoon, least of all on an occasion marking the 150th anniversary of the IRFU.
Any loose talk of Australia, bottom ...