Paul O'Connell and Ireland enjoy calm away from eye of storm

If Simon Easterby and his management team wanted any justification for a Guinness Six Nations warm-weather training camp in Portugal, then this week certainly is their perfect example.

As Storm Éowyn caused havoc across Ireland, the Irish squad had no disruption to their plans at their camp in the Algarve.

With the country coming to the end of a Status Red weather warning, the Irish squad were working away as usual out on the pitch at Quinta do Lago.

With heavier training sessions yesterday and tomorrow, the squad went through some light work in their units on the pitch this morning, aided by a giant pitchside screen where they could highlight game situations and walk through their strategy in balmy 16C conditions.

It's the third year in a row that their Six Nations campaign has started out here in Portugal, while they also held camps before last year’s Autumn Nations Series and the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

For forwards coach Paul O’Connell (above), it’s become an invaluable part of their season.

"It's a bit of a change of scenery. When we come out here, the players definitely enjoy it," he said from their training base, The Campus.

"It's a great training facility, they really enjoy the hotel. I suppose there's a bit of a feeling of 'we're in with Ireland now'. We're out of the country and there's this special experience because it is a great week.

"The training pitch out there is beautiful. We get to have a lot of meetings outdoors because of the weather. Generally, you stay around on the pitch a bit longer, you get to have a few more conversations with players.

"We have the hotel to ourselves so it's a great way in week one when the players have to take on a lot."

After gathering in camp Monday morning, the squad flew out to