Six former Irish internationals are now working as head coaches or directors of rugby, but with three of the provinces now coached by Kiwis, only one of them, Eric Elwood, is stationed in Ireland.

In addition to Michael Bradley at Edinburgh and the newly promoted Simon Easterby at Scarlets, the traditional Twickenham double-header which kick-started the Aviva Premiership saw Conor O’Shea’s Harlequins begin the defence of their title by completing the biggest comeback in the Premiership’s history from a 40-13 deficit in the final quarter to beat Wasps 42-40, before Mark McCall’s Saracens met Brian Smith’s London Irish. More anon.

In the English Championship, Kevin Maggs is now head coach at Moseley in Birmingham, who finished tenth of 12 last season and began their campaign with a difficult trek to Bedford, second last season, where they lost 50-6.

Over in France, Jeremy Davidson is in his second season as head coach of ProD2 side Aurillac, who followed up their opening day win at Dax to beat Aix-en-Provence 42-19 at home.

They sit third, a point behind cash-rich and ultra-ambitious Lyon (for whom Sebastien Chabal scored in a 63-15 win over Beziers) and Oyonnax.

Others Irish coaches are working abroad too. Having acted in a consultancy role with the Grenoble defence in their ProD2-winning campaign last season, Bernard Jackman has moved his young family over to France take up a full-time role with the club as defence and skills coach.

On Friday night, Setanta viewers saw Grenoble record their second win in three matches by 26-12 at home over Stade Francais, for whom the ex-Old Wesley and Wanderers centre and now Seapoint coach, Nigel Osborne, is working on a consultancy basis, primarily on their defence.

In Italy meanwhile, having been cruelly forced to retire prematurely with a bad eye injury, Ian McKinley has climbed his first steps on the coach ladder by working with the underage sides in Udine.