When Ireland captain Johnny Sexton stepped aside after last year's World Cup, it was seen by many as the end of an era.
Sexton's 14 years in an Irish jersey saw him win four Six Nations Championships, and he was captain for last year's dominant Grand Slam triumph.
One of only two Irish players ever to win World Rugby Player of the Year, Sexton's influence on this Ireland team could not be overstated, and rival fans will surely have hoped that his departure would have led to a slump in form for the team.
They have been left sorely disappointed by the opening rounds of this season's Six Nations, with Andy Farrell's side romping to 15 points from a possible 15 thus far and showing no signs of slowing down.
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John Barclay thinks Ireland's post-Johnny Sexton form is worrying
The panel on the BBC Rugby Podcast discussed Ireland's ruthless form this week, with ex-Wales captain Sam Warburton asserting his belief that they are the best team in the world.
They enter the final two rounds of the Six Nations hoping to become the first team this century to win back-to-back Grand Slams - and they have done it all without the talismanic presence of Johnny Sexton.
24 February 2024; Former Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton, right, and his brother Mark Sexton in attendance during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Wales at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Former Scotland captain John Barclay said that, more than Ireland's back-to-back dismantlings of France, Italy, and Wales, the fact that those victories were achieved in Sexton's absence will be most worrying to their Six Nations opponents:
How do you break what Ireland are creating? Because you see the conveyor belt coming through, it's not going to be from a lack of talent point of view.
The only time you see breaks in the best teams is when something culturally shifts and players don't put the same work in, the mentality's different or coaches move on.
Once you lose it, it's very hard to get it back again. You see it with all these dynasty teams. Something happens and it's the end of an era.
We thought 'maybe this might be when Johnny Sexton leaves', but that didn't really turn out.
We have seen other sides struggle in transitional periods in recent years, with the current struggles of the England team a prime example of this.
For Ireland to have performed so dominantly in the afterglow of Johnny Sexton's retirement can only be taken as a huge positive.
The other experienced heads from Ireland's World Cup squad have stayed on, with Peter O'Mahony named as captain and he and Conor Murray expected to sign contract renewals at Munster.
Meanwhile, Sexton's replacement at fly-half has impressed thus far in the Six Nations. Jack Crowley got his first test try against Italy earlier this month, and has looked assured with the ball in hand as Ireland begin to build around their new 10.
Ireland take on England at Twickenham next weekend, before rounding off their Six Nations campaign against Scotland in Dublin on St. Patrick's weekend.
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