Second-row O’Connell readily admits that the respite has handed players the chance to rest any knocks they may have picked up – namely fly-half Jonny Sexton who tweaked his thigh muscle on the eve of the match in Paris.

But after Declan Kidney named the same side due to play France to face Italy this weekend, O’Connell has revealed he has found twiddling his thumbs difficult to deal with.

"When you lose a game you like to get straight back out there and get it out of your system," said O’Connell.

"It's been frustrating carrying that around, but then some guys have had time to recover from bumps and bruises.

"We've just got on with what's happened because there's not much we can do about it. If you complain, the only people it will affect are you.

"Some guys with knocks have benefited from it, but a few others would have liked more game time under their belts.

"We've come into camp fresh this week and that's the positive that's come of it.”