‘Who has been criticising Paul O’Connell?’ – Ryan Baird stays grounded while Ireland’s lineout is up in the air

Leinster man takes his own share of responsibility for misfiring set-piece but insists it only requires tweaks to fix

‘I was at fault for one of them, a communication error’ says Ryan Baird about Ireland’s lineout trouble in recent weeks. Photo: Sportsfile

Ryan Baird is one of rugby’s most cerebral figures and, even when asked notionally general questions, often approaches their answer with a lingering pause.

How’s the form? Sigh. Pause. Deep breath. Pause.