Andy Farrell, the coach set to pit his wits against Joe Schmidt's developing Australia side for both Ireland and the Lions, believes his brilliant old mentor is right on track with his Wallabies project.
Farrell will be reuniting with the coach he helped assist during a three-and-a-half year stretch of glory for Ireland when the two teams meet in a special match at Lansdowne Road on Saturday to mark the 150th anniversary of the Irish Rugby Football Union.
And it will be Farrell's last match with Ireland before he takes a sabbatical to fashion a British & Irish Lions side who'll take on Schmidt's Wallabies in next year's three-Test series in Australia.