What a machine.

Ireland got their season off to the perfect start on Saturday evening with an all out demolition of a hapless Springbok side at the Aviva. Joe Schmidt’s men ran out 38-3 winners against South Africa, a new record win over the former world champions for the Irish.

At times it were as if Ireland were playing an amateur side, such was the difference in many elements of the game. Ireland’s defensive line was incredibly organised and quick, while their set-piece was near untouchable.

Ireland kept the pressure on their counterparts from minute one to minute eighty, and nothing sums it up better than this incredible covering back from Robbie Henshaw. The Leinster centre saw that his teammate Rob Kearney was in trouble, and what he did next was hugely impressive, and sums up Ireland’s night in Dublin.

Kearney let a chip in behind get the better of him, but Henshaw was there not only to clean up, but also to get a clearing kick away, before chasing his monster boot all to way up to South Africa’s 22 and tackling Andries Coetzee. Wonderful stuff from Henshaw.