After only two rounds of action, this year’s Six Nations championship has already taken on the appearance of a two-horse race — notwithstanding Wales’ right to dispute that.

England appear to have stumbled on the missing ingredient of a cutting edge that has eluded them for years.

GAMES Against Italy tend to go exactly to type, especially when you play them in Rome. Always dogged and difficult to break down, they excel in dragging teams down to their level.

1 Authority at half-back.

You suspect Schmidt wants Sexton back as soon as possible and will throw him inat the deep end against the French, says Donal Lenihan.

News last week the appointment of a chairman and a director general have had to be put on hold for the time being offered a timely reminder of the difficulties faced in satisfying the diverse interests of the stakeholders on the board of European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), says Donal Lenihan.

There were different agendas at play for Leinster, Munster and Ulster approaching their final pool games in the inaugural Champions Cup over the weekend, writes Donal Lenihan.

IT’S difficult to escape the feeling that Munster’s comprehensive defeat at the hands of Saracens was an accident waiting to happen, says Donal Lenihan.

As if things weren’t bad enough, Saracens finished on a high with their third try of the day accompanied by that despicable Chris Ashton swan dive.

IT’S been a testing week for the Munster set-up despite that bonus point win over Zebre, writes Donal Lenihan.