Farrell and Ireland learn lots in South Africa but leave Leinster facing big decisions
There are just six games URC games ahead of four autumn tests.
Those looking to put a metric on Ireland and the Andy Farrell era should look closely at his full-scale tours.
Previous Ireland trips traditionally started with a brave ol' effort first up before succumbing meekly the second time of asking and falling off cliffs in third tests.
Farrell has as good as reversed this process, almost Benjamin Button-like, something which wakes the Man of Steel's regime all the more remarkable.
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The South Africa tour opened with a seven-point beating that could have been a lot worse but for Ireland gaining a try before half-time and Handre Pollard missing kick after kick.
But it was followed by a one-point win that could have been more as they were ten points up from earlier on and denying the Springboks a try though 80-plus minutes - it was Pollard's eight-from-eight penalties that kept the home side in the game.
Ireland's last toured in 2022 where an opening day 19-42 thrashing against the All Blacks in Auckland didn't augur well.
Yet bounce-back Ireland posted a 23-12 win in Dunedin before a memorable 32-22 victory in Wellington to clinch a first-ever series win in New Zealand.
But there is a significant difference to that trip to South Africa 2024 and the 2022 trip to New Zealand - and it has nothing to do with there being a Rugby World Cup in between.
This time Ireland gave new/younger players a chance, rookie Jamie Osborne was superb over the two games, Ciaran Frawley stole the show, Caolin Blade has a tale to tell forever.
That came with Jack Crowley adding to his stock, Ronan Kelleher setting down a brilliant marker in the second test while it was more than interesting to hear Farrell specifically namecheck Sam Prendergast and Cormac Izuchukwu on Saturday night.
In 2022, by contrast, the coach rolled over the same 13 players through the three tests with another four 'sharing two' positions.
The right wing opened with Keith Earls before Mack Hansen played twice while in the centre Garry Ringrose played the opening two games and Bundee Aki the last.
Such is the difference to what was learned in South Africa and what was learned in New Zealand.
None of Osborne, Kelleher, Frawley, Blade, Prendergast nor Izuchukwu started a 2024 Six Nations game yet the feeling is they have graduated somehow - they have become part of the hive.
Ireland have four games in the coming autumn window New Zealand (Nov 8), Argentina (Nov 13), Fiji (Nov 20) and the Joe Schmidt-coached Australia (Nov 30) and it is clear the squad has been bolstered, added to significantly.
Of course there is 'rugby' to come before that, six rounds of URC action precede the autumn tests (the opening European skirmishes come after the Test window).
And thoughts turn to how the lessons from South Africa might be applied to the new season.
Farrell has famously 'pushed' selection on Leinster before. His promotion of Hugo Keenan and Jamison Gibson-Park to front-line test internationals preceded their nailing down first team spots at their parent club while there was his 'moving' Andrew Porter from tight-head to loose-head.
Leinster's first-choice backline for the 2024 Champions Cup final was Keenan, Larmour, Henshaw, Osborne, Lowe, Byrne and Gibson-Park.
Farrell seems to be suggesting Ringrose should be in the starting line-up too; the selection of Ciaran Frawley and Sam Prendergast to tour ahead of Ross and Harry Byrne seems another missive.
Meanwhile Leinster have brought in All Black superstar Jordie Barratt who normally plays in the centre or full-back but has doubled as a winger while they retain Irish international and RWC2023 quarter-finalist Jimmy O'Brien and Aussie star Charlie Ngatai.
Getting a start on either of the sides facing each other at Leinster training could be as difficult as trying to get into the Ireland squad!
Meanwhile it was thought the appointment of David Humphreys would see him push the checkers about the provincial board, break up log-jams in certain positions at a certain club on the eastern seaboard.
But his ability to set up a clearing house for players has been hampered by his own appointment in succession to David Nucifora having been stalled in its own sorta clearing house.
Because while the battle and the opinions rage surrounding the out-half slot at Leinster, not least as the incumbent will be playing with almost all of the Ireland back-line and Irish pack.
Yet while that's fermenting, each of the other three provinces seem to have despaired of anything concrete happening, not least Connacht who officially requested Sam Prendergast to come on loan to them for the 2024/25 season.
A loan, they stressed, where he would be with 'family' as, specifically, his brother Cian is starring for them.
Refused that loan Connacht went ahead, as did Munster and Ulster, with sourcing highly-rated no10s to bolster their number; the quality of no10s about the place next season will be extraordinary.
Connacht have signed New Zealand out-half Josh Ioane (29) who has an 2019 All Black cap and 72 Super Rugby appearances for Highlanders and Chiefs.
Ulster have signed New Zealand out-half Aidan Morgan (23) who has four New Zealand U20 caps and 23 Super Rugby appearances for Hurricanes.
Munster may have lost Joey Carbery to Bordeaux but they have signed Billy Burns (30) who has 114 URC appearances for Ulster and seven Ireland caps.
Leinster's balancing act has always been important to Ireland, something they have managed while remaining one of the most exciting and respected clubs worldwide.
But running with too many out-halves and being allowed to sign a genius All Black who - not to mention picking up second-row 'Bok RG Snyman and tight-head Rabah Slimani (officially confirmed on on July 15) - every time he is selected will be contra-Ireland's interests
The Blues have been known for building their success on being a happy club, the last thing they need is fear and loathing Monday through to Fridays.
As for Ireland selection, those opening half-dozen URC games, coming as they do as a direct lead-in to the All Blacks, Argentina, Fiji and a reborn Australia, have never held such importance.
That's, by the way, world-ranked number two Ireland against world-ranked three, seven, ten and nine which will be followed by world-ranked four, five, six and eight in the Six Nations.
Ireland play the eight teams ranked directly behind them between November and March - these boys don't get much time to rest on their laurels do they?
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