For a number of years, Irish rugby was wrestling with one major question: how would Ireland fare once Johnny Sexton was no longer available for selection?
The out-half was so integral to the team's successes over the last ten years or so that it was understandable why many were concerned with how they would cope after his retirement. Those worries were compounded by the fact that many of his potential successors over the years failed to live up to their potential.
While it is still too early to say for certain, it seems that Ireland are now fairly well set to cope with his absence. They certainly did not suffer during the game against France last week, with Jack Crowley putting in an excellent performance as Andy Farrell's men strolled to a historic victory.
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Rugby: England legend impressed by the post-Sexton Ireland
Bigger tests are certainly yet to come for Ireland in the post-Sexton era, but you would have to be encouraged by the rugby they played in their first outing since his retirement.
Writing in The Times, England legend Lawrence Dallaglio said that he was very impressed with how Ireland looked to kick off this year's Six Nations.
Clearly, Ireland are the standout side in this year’s Six Nations. They have managed the transition to life after Johnny Sexton extremely well.
They look like a team that have won 19 of their past 20 Test matches, that aren’t suffering any of the mental hangover that France are and, after that dominant win in Marseille, it’s hard to look past them winning back-to-back grand slams.
No team has ever done that in the Six Nations era, but who is going to stop them on present evidence?
Jack Crowley certainly looks as though he has the ability to step in and perform for Ireland, although one aspect of Sexton's retirement may be that they are no longer so reliant on one player to get them over the line big games.
That could be a good thing in the long run.
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