The star of that show, Simon Zebo, has since been sidelined by injury along with the likes of fly-half Jonny Sexton and centre Gordon D’Arcy as the problems have piled up.

Defeats to England and Scotland – despite dominating possession and territory in the later – have left Ireland fourth in the table with two games to go.

But Kidney, who led Ireland to a first  Grand Slam in 61 years in his first season in charge, believes there is no need to panic.

“I believe it will click in. It is obviously taking longer to click in than we wanted it to. But it is the way forward,” Kidney told the  Herald.

“This team isn't the team we had four years ago. We adapt the style to suit the players. It is a case of staying the course with it. Scotland and England have played that pressure type game.

“It wouldn't suit us at the moment. It depends on the players that you have and what they can bring to it. That will suit certain types of teams and it won't suit others.”