Joe Schmidt must have given serious consideration to putting Peter O’Mahony in the starting line-up, writes Donal Lenihan.

The fascinating aspect of England’s long unbeaten run is the mental fortitude they can now call on at critical moments, writes Ronan O’Gara.

England 19 France 16: England will embrace the hostility awaiting in Cardiff once Eddie Jones has examined the psychology behind Wales’ control of a fixture he claims has left previous Red Rose teams “petrified”.

It’s three years since Northampton and Leinster last crossed paths twice in the space of a week and both clubs will be drawing on lessons learned the hard way as they approach the first of their latest engagements, at Franklin’s Gardens.

Eddie Jones insists the key to defeating Fiji and extending England’s winning streak to 12 Tests is to “bore them to death”.

Eddie Jones' unbeaten England ended a 10-year wait for victory over South Africa.

ENGLAND:

England boss Eddie Jones is hoping to turn uncapped lock Maro Itoje into a “BMW”, with the Saracens man set to see action in Rome tomorrow.

Northampton 9 Racing 92 9: Northampton’s England contingent failed to make an impression as Eddie Jones resumed his busy pre-Christmas scouting tour of the Aviva Premiership clubs last night.

Clermont Auvergne 27 Northampton Saints 5: Nick Abendanon hopes his stellar evening against Northampton has offered England additional reason to soften their stance on selecting overseas-based players.

Stuart Lancaster is convinced England can win the World Cup despite presiding over a fourth successive runners-up finish in the RBS 6 Nations.

England 25 Scotland 13

England have recalled lock Courtney Lawes and full-back Mike Brown for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland.

Courtney Lawes will make his England return in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland emboldened by a glowing reference from forwards coach Graham Rowntree.

Mike Brown is still suffering concussion symptoms and faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the pivotal RBS 6 Nations clash between Ireland and England in Dublin.

Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter have the chance to reignite their Test careers in England’s 34-man Six Nations training squad, with Sam Burgess also handed World Cup lift-off.

Champions Cup

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has backed Owen Farrell to make an impact from the bench against Australia at Twickenham tomorrow after dropping him from his starting XV for the first time since June 2012.

Cian Healy was delighted to catch former team-mate Brian O’Driscoll out in a mistake on Twitter earlier today, but was soon forced to eat his words.

Like the captain he plays beside in Ireland’s second row, Devin Toner may be happy with the way the Irish lineout has improved since the systems meltdown in Rome last March but the locks will be taking nothing for granted as they seek revenge against the Italians on Saturday.

Sometimes it takes a captain to point out the obvious.

With Wales demolishing France on Friday night, a win for Ireland in Twickenham on Saturday was likely to yield even more in terms of silverware than the Triple Crown that represented the tangible reward for victory.

France 26 England 24

England 22 New Zealand 30

Northampton 27 Ospreys 16

England 18 Italy 11

Courtney Lawes is ready to strike fear into the French ‘bully boys’ when he is unleashed from the England back row for the first time.

If anything, Ireland were the far more tentative and suspect-looking outfit in the opening period

Northampton 6 Ulster 25

Wales’ Twickenham hero Scott Williams says returning to training has brought him “back to reality”, and admits that his recollection of his match-winning score remains a blur.

HEINEKEN CUP winner Raphael Ibanez believes that three Irish provinces will create history by making it to the last eight of the tournament this year.

England lock Courtney Lawes has signed a new deal with Northampton that will keep him at Franklin’s Gardens until 2015.

NORTHAMPTON coach Jim Mallinder has questioned the consistency of refereeing in the Heineken Cup after his side suffered a crushing defeat at sunny Stade Pierre Antoine.

NORTHAMPTON crashed to a second consecutive Heineken Cup defeat and to the brink of elimination.

Northampton 23 Scarlets 28

COURTNEY Lawes believes Northampton Saints are finally up and running after a slow start to the new season and have the momentum to continue their winning ways in their Heineken Cup opener against Munster in Limerick on Saturday evening.

Courtney Lawes has become the third England player to be fined for wearing a branded gumshield during the Rugby World Cup.

Toby Flood will start at inside centre alongside fly-half Jonny Wilkinson in England’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.

England lock Courtney Lawes insisted he will not change his approach to the game, despite serving a two-match World Cup ban for striking Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma with his knee.

ENGLAND prop Andrew Sheridan has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup with a shoulder injury, the RFU announced last night.

England were today considering whether to appeal against Courtney Lawes’ two-match ban for recklessly striking Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma with his knee.