If evidence was needed to underline the value of youth, you only had to watch the scenes in Cardiff on Saturday when a gaggle of baby-faced assassins from Wales paraded the Six Nations trophy around the Millennium Stadium with the same innocent smiles as kids in a bouncy castle.

To beat England at any level it is imperative that you match them in the set piece.

1 DEFENCE

Saturday’s game against England at Twickenham will be Ireland’s 14th test game in eight months and will have a defining influence on how that period is judged.

Saturday offered a glimpse of what Ireland’s rugby future might look like when Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell, Ronan O’Gara and David Wallace depart the international scene on a permanent basis.

1 THE SECOND ROW

It has been an interesting and revealing few weeks in the evolution of this Irish team.

As things transpired, the postponement of the Six Nations meeting of France and Ireland for three weeks was rendered inconsequential.

Sometimes teams make the mistake of paying France too much respect

Just how expensive will that last gasp penalty against Wales prove to be when this championship is decided in a few weeks time?