When analysing why Ireland go into this weekend’s game at Twickenham on the verge of a Grand Slam and England do so looking to avoid a third successive defeat, it is impossible to ignore that Joe Schmidt’s side look far fresher than their counterparts.

One example of that contrast is the two playmakers, Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell. Since the Lions tour, Sexton has played just 435 minutes for Leinster while Farrell has amassed a staggering 1,084 minutes of action for Saracens.

Clearly, Ireland are leveraging the advantages of the centrally-contracted set-up. But they also have a weapon, one that tells them which individuals to rest and when. Kitman Labs is proving vital to how the IRFU is managing its human resources, ensuring players peak at vital moments.