Since the last Rugby World Cup, the age profile of this Ireland squad has come in for scrutiny.
Even with the recent retirements of Conor Murray, Peter O'Mahony and Cian Healy, Andy Farrell’s side are leaning on an experienced core, which he appears to be banking on to get them to the next tournament in Australia in 2027.
By the time that rolls around, many of tried-and-trusted frontliners in this Irish team will be well into their 30s. Bundee Aki will be 37 by the next World Cup, while Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe and Stuart McCloskey will be 35. Tadhg Furlong, Josh van der Flier and Robbie Henshaw will all be 34.
Some of those players may not make the next World Cup, while others might even last beyond it, but the reality is that within the next four years, each season will likely see a couple of hundred international appearances leave this Irish squad, one retirement after another.
Farrell may be leaning on those players now, but the head coach knows he has to prepare for a changing of the guard, and the amount of Emerging Ireland, Ireland A and Ireland XV games that have been popping up in recent seasons illustrates that.
Time will tell if that transition is a success or not, but for now, Farrell is content to slowly drip-feed experience to the next generation.
It’s just over two years since arguably Ireland's best ever Under-20s side reached the World Cup final in Cape Town, capping off a remarkable 18 months under former head coach Richie Murphy, which saw back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams, and just a second ever run to the world final.
Of that 2023 World Cup side, three were involved for the Ireland senior team in Saturday's 41-10 win against Japan, with hooker Gus McCarthy (above), prop Paddy McCarthy and out-half Sam Prendergast all featuring off the bench.
"It's really, really positive, and it brings such joy seeing lads you've played with come up around you," Gus McCarthy says.
"I'm sure there'll be more in the years to come, plenty of lads in our age group, a lot of the lads playing later on today [for Ireland XV against Spain] and even some lads that aren't, that are really, really good players that I'd say we'll see, hopefully soon."
Others from that group have had a taste of international rugby; from the 2022 Grand Slam winners, Jack Boyle has established himself as an international in the last 12 months, while tighthead Scott Wilson had a summer call-up.
A star of the 2023 side, Hugh Gavin, was capped on the summer tour in Portugal, while Diarmuid Mangan, James McNabney, Fintan Gunne and Hugh Cooney have all been involved in extended Ireland squads. Brian Gleeson had been due to be with the squad in Chicago a fortnight ago, only for injury to rule him out.
Leinster hooker Gus McCarthy – captain of the 2023 U20s - found his way into the Ireland squad through a series of injuries this time 12 months ago, and grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
On Saturday he came off the bench to score his third Irish try on his eight appearance, although he isn't taking too much credit for the score.
Gus McCarthy with Ireland's latest try as the home side move 17 points clear.
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"The lads that were on the pitch for the first 60, 50 minutes, putting in all the groundwork, they tired them down.
"I was delighted to get a try. I can't say I did anything, it was the back of the maul.
"I was obviously a bit nervous coming on, still very inexperienced, so just wanted to get into the game, you just want to get your first impact, kind of get you into the game.
"It was in the balance, so I was very nervous but I wanted to just come on and try and make as much of an impact as I could and just play my own game.
"I still feel like I'm still relatively inexperienced and kind of want to prove myself, but the lads are so accommodating to new lads coming into the group.
"We saw there today with Tom Farrell, new lads coming into the camp fit in so seamlessly because the squad of lads we have are such an excellent squad.
"All the leaders and all the older lads are so accommodating and kind of make you feel welcome and help you as much as they can when you come into the squad."
His fellow McCarthy – Paddy – also got on the scoresheet, his first for Ireland in his second appearance, having made his debut against New Zealand last week.
And having packed down alongside Paddy for several years dating back to their school days at Blackrock College, Gus isn't one bit surprised about how well his team-mate has settled into the Ireland squad.
"You see, he's such an explosive talent, he's a big, big man, like his brother [Joe], I don't know what they have in them.
"They just have some crazy strength in them and he's a very, very exciting player. I've played with him since we were about 11 so I know exactly what he can do.
"It's really, really special to be out there together. We've played as a front row together for a very, very long time, so it's great just having him there now, I can trust him.
"You can't just have players who play on paper. The two of them bring incredible amounts of individuality, and you need that in rugby.
"As you saw today, he just picked up, went himself and scored. You need lads like that, so it's really, really good to have," Gus added.
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