IRELAND v FIJI PLAYER REACTION:HEADACHES. If the collective thoughts of the Irish team were to bodily manifest themselves on the coach, Declan Kidney would be in a certain heap. The players want to give him headaches. They wish to make his life difficult, his job a series of singularly heartbreaking choices. It's all of his own making.

One of Kidney’s tasks is to stir the senior players, give those on the periphery hope and confidence to believe a place is not beyond their grasp.

Fiji was such an opportunity. An outcome that was never in doubt had the required effect and a number of players may now be anxious before he announces the team to face South Africa on Tuesday. Jonathan Sexton was the ring-leader in the team conspiracy to make the life of the boss pleasantly anxious.

“It’s perfect, isn’t it,” said Keith Earls of Sexton’s man-of-the-match romp. “It was an outstanding performance. I’m delighted for him. He’s waited a long time for his chance but it was well deserved.”

Warm heart, cool head, Sexton was not the walking, talking iceberg he assumed to be on the squalling night in Ballsbridge. Similar in age, Earls understands battling nerves on first-night performances. He too earned his first cap on home ground at Thomond Park.

“He (Sexton) was a small bit nervous but he just got on with it,” said the Munster back.

“I don’t think he got to sleep till 3am this morning. He was up getting a sleeping tablet. I think he was more excited than anything else with the opportunity. And he took it.”

The comfort of familiar surrounds might have helped.

“Yeah, definitely because I got my first cap at Thomond,” added Earls. “It’s a lot easier when you’re in front of your home fans.

“It was spot-on, a perfect performance. I don’t know what else you can say about it . . . he attacked like a fullback. He’s a good running threat as well.”

Scrumhalf Eoin Reddan was no less effusive about his Leinster team-mate’s debut. Reddan started the match with Sexton and then made way for Tomás O’Leary after 50 minutes. On making way for O’Leary, though, he was less certain about next week.

“You want to play every minute of every game but the coach has his decisions to make. You do what you can,” said Reddan. Talking up Sexton was an altogether more rewarding and less difficult task.

“A dream debut for him,” said the scrumhalf. “He’s a good head on him and he’s very robust. I know that whatever happens now, he’ll go on to be a great player. Whether he plays next week or not, that won’t affect his form and I think that’s key. He’s in a good position.

“He’s a good guy. He has a good manner. He loves his rugby and he’s very skilful – he executes what he’s trying to do very well, so I’ve been very impressed.”

Earls, who started on the wing and was moved into the centre when captain Brian O’Driscoll was rested in the second half, is also aware of Kidney’s dilemmas. Did Shane Horgan do enough with a try from the wing, Gordon D’Arcy in the centre and what of Paddy Wallace, Reddan, Sexton and Earls himself?

“I was struggling a little bit with a dead leg I picked up in the first half,” said Earls. “I didn’t really get to touch the ball much in the centre but yeah, always good to get an opportunity at 12 or 13.

“I’ll have to wait until Tuesday to see if I get selected but hopefully I’ll get an opportunity against the best team in the world.”

The Lions tour was a window to the future for Earls. In South Africa he realised how good he was but also how much he had to improve. While his confidence took a knock, the experience has hardened him and taught him how to continue to move forward.

Next week could be seen as a pay-back Test.

“Yeah, definitely, the Lions tour was disappointing, losing two Tests,” he says.

“We know they’re there to be beaten. France beat them last week so it’s a good opportunity. We’ve just got to relax and take it one game at a time, like we did against Fiji today. You have to respect all the opposition.”

At the other end of the spectrum, Tom Court plied his trade in the in the unforgiving frontrow. The Ulster prop started the match with John Hayes and Jerry Flannery and finished up with Seán Cronin and Tony Buckley. That took a bit of adjustment

“Obviously with Ireland I’ve only really been the bench option and never really played too much to be honest,” said Court.

“I guess it was more getting a chance to put my hand up to Deccie and the coaches to prove ‘yes I do want to push on and I can do the job’.

“It was the first time I ever played with Jerry and John, so obviously it took a couple of scrums to get right. But I felt that once we got our timing and everyone moved together we really started using it as a weapon

“It’s just a matter of having to work on everything all of the time. Deccie has said that there are so many guys vying for spots now that the first guy who slips up and doesn’t play well is the guy that’s not going to get a game.”

Next week the breakdown, as France showed when they beat South Africa, will be critical. There will be no Denis Leamy; Donncha O’Callaghan will want his jersey back from Leo Cullen and then there’s Tony Buckley, Court and Cian Healy.

Kidney can just suck it up. The hard calls are all of his own making.