The failure to extract any return from opportunities within striking distance of the opposition line is galling, more so when they stem from a repeated failure to execute from attacking lineouts

If you continue to run into brick walls, or in this case an impregnable white wall of England defenders spread right across the pitch, you will eventually knock yourself out

Eddie Jones has built England’s identity around three key tenets. How will Ireland deal with these this afternoon?

Placed in band three of the draw, they are the opposition everyone will want to avoid

Of far more importance than results will be which country extracts most from the exercise in terms of developing their playing style and player depth

Even young can 'chart a course' thousands of kilometres

Donal Lenihan looks at Ireland's strength in depth and asks whether the quality coming through is good enough against the best international sides?

Ireland have slipped back into the middle ground with Scotland and Wales

Three key challenges facing Ireland in Paris1. Platform to perform. For the last decade, French teams have performed in the Six Nations with one hand tied behind their backs.

You can take it with certainty England will still bag their bonus point win at the Stadio Olimpico