Recent suggestions foreign players should serve a five-year residency — as opposed to three — before qualifying to play Test rugby for their adopted countries have, unsurprisingly, found little favour with Jared Payne.

Not that it would happen, but if Anthony Foley were to face a “show us your medals” moment in his first week as Ireland’s stand-in forwards coach, he would be one of a select few to have savoured a Six Nations win in Paris.

RONAN O’GARA has been tipped to head the Lions challenge in New Zealand next summer by one of the best out halves the world has known.

Wales hooker Gareth Williams admits he must deliver after winning his first full Test cap in the crunch RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield tomorrow.

Ireland, sitting on top of the RBS 6 Nations table after the opening two rounds, were today counting the cost of a frenetic start to the new condensed championship.