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?

The news Tony McGahan is to return to his native Australia to become defence coach with the Wallabies is superb for him on a personal level but not so good for Munster.

It says everything about the fractured nature of this season’s Six Nations championship that Wales could well be celebrating a Triple Crown success before France take to the field in Murrayfield for their second game of the tournament.

SO much physical and mental energy goes into preparing for an international test match that to have it called off as you are literally about to leave the dressing room must be emotionally draining.

For the first time in 12 years Ireland returned from Paris undefeated in the Six Nations but not in the circumstances they would have wished.

1 The mental challenge