Not everything has worked out the way the new governing body the EPCR intended, with the promise of more lucrative commercial partners yet to materialise, but what emerged triumphantly last week was that the spirit of community and togetherness that has been fostered between rugby clubs since the advent of European competition back in 1995 is stronger than ever.

Axel’s passing served to remind everyone of that.

The values that underpin the game in this country also came shining through and in so doing reminded everyone that for a country of this size, we continue to make a big impact. The fact Joe Schmidt chose this week to finally confirm his contract extension to the World Cup in Japan in 2019 offered another timely boost to the sport.

The significance of this decision cannot be underestimated. Having already experienced one World Cup cycle, you just know that he will have learned massively from that experience and come the next tournament, Ireland will be in a far better position to close the door on that elusive semi-final slot.

The chief lesson to emerge from the 2015 tournament is you cannot have an over reliance on any one individual and that having strength in depth right across the board is a necessity. From that perspective, the recent three-test tour of South Africa must have offered Schmidt renewed hope.

With the likes of Johnny Sexton, Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony and Rob Kearney already left at home and the loss on tour of Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne for the, series deciding, third test, it was left to the younger brigade in Paddy Jackson, Jordi Murphy, Luke Marshall, Stuart Olding, and Tadhg Furlong to step up to the mark. They were not found wanting.

Last weekend, we saw another batch put their hands up and demand that Schmidt now gives them serious consideration.

Let’s start in Thomond Park. When it was confirmed at the end of last season BJ Botha would not be offered a contract extension due to IRFU restrictions, many feared for the Munster scrum.

Yet if a vote for player of the season was initiated now, John Ryan would be at the top of my list. He has been sensational and having oscillated between tight and loose head prop in recent seasons, depending on Munster’s injury profile, has now made his home on the tight head side.

This guy is a serious athlete. When Dave Kilcoyne and James Cronin were both ruled out with injury for the demanding trip to Clermont two seasons ago, the Inniscarra man was thrown in at the deep end, at loose head, against the grizzled Georgian Davit Zirakashvili.

Not only did he survive but he thrived.

Last season with Botha injured for the return trip to Welford Road against Leicester, Ryan was back at tight head against Argentina’s Marcos Ayerza, one of the best loose head props in the game. Once again he rose to the challenge and had a blinder. I love his attitude. When replaced by Stephen Archer with 12 minutes remaining last Saturday, he sprinted to the sideline as if to say to Rassie Erasmus - ‘I have plenty left in the tank’.

While every Munster player, across the board, excelled on Saturday the other standout performer for me was Rory Scannell. After the steady progress of last season, he was sensational. Of the five tries which Munster registered, he scored one himself, provided the scoring pass to his centre partner Jaco Taute and made the inside break with a classy side step inside Henry Pyrgos and cut out pass to Simon Zebo for the full-back’s inspired effort. That coupled with a faultless defensive display in tandem with Taute resulted in Scannell’s most accomplished performance for Munster.

The decision of the Leinster players to stand for the minute’s silence in red tee-shirts, with No 8 on the back, was pure class, a really special moment. On the field they struggled to come to terms with the immense physicality of their hosts, Montpellier, that extended from a gargantuan pack of forwards right across to their 21 stone, 6 foot 5 inch winger Nemani Nadolo.

Eleven points down at the break, things looked even more ominous for Leinster when both Johnny Sexton and the returning Sean O’Brien were withdrawn at half-time. Yet, in the most demanding of circumstances, it was their less experienced players, supported admirably by Isa Nacewa and Jamie Heaslip, that fought their way back to secure what could yet prove a vital losing bonus point.

Chief among them was Garry Ringrose. His development has been carefully handled over the last 15 months but, not for the first time this season, he has shown that he is ready to take the next step.

Physically he proved he is more than capable of surviving at this level and what he lacks in bulk, he more than makes up for with the quality of his footwork and passing. He is straight out of the Gordon D’Arcy/Brian O’Driscoll school of excellence on that front.

Both in attack and defence, Ringrose excelled, and it appears only a matter of time before his fledgling Leinster partnership with Henshaw will be tested at the highest level. Schmidt’s midfield options are growing by the game.

If Paddy Jackson demonstrated on three successive Saturdays against the Springboks in June he has now come to terms with the demands of the international game, the emergence of Joey Carbery offers another exciting option that suggests Ireland could travel to the next World Cup with three tens capable of directing a game at the highest level.

Carbery still has a road to travel to arrive at that point but his seamless transition from AIL rugby with Clontarf to Champions Cup action already proves he has the necessary temperament to make it all the way. In the meantime, with the benefit of regular game time with Bordeaux-Begles, Ian Madigan remains another viable option.

Quite where Munster go from here is anyone’s guess but, in adversity, and when the need was greatest, Axel’s passing served to awaken a sleeping giant on and off the field.

It is now incumbent on everyone associated to grasp that flame and run with it. Munster have more to offer than perhaps even those at the epicentre of the camp dared to contemplate. If that becomes Axel’s legacy then he will rest easy.