Three key areas Ireland need to address to keep series alive, writes Donal Lenihan

With 58 tries from 87 test appearances for Wales, Shane Williams has an unquestionable reputation as one of rugby union’s most lethal finishers.

Leinster 20 Scarlets 13: Leinster landed a significant blow in the scramble for Guinness PRO14 play-off places on Saturday afternoon with a hard-earned and at times entertaining victory against the 2017 league champions in Ballsbridge.

Joe Schmidt was true to his word that the Six Nations is no place for experimentation as he named an experienced squad for next month’s opening games of the championship, although there was one notable and welcome exception.

Philip Browne has suggested Munster’s signing of Gerbrandt Grobler was down to a “crying need” for second-row cover, a situation that led the province and the IRFU to ignore the player’s former doping ban.

Munster may have fluffed their lines on the pitch on Saturday but the party line was rattled off effortlessly by those players wheeled out afterwards to explain the almost inexplicable manner of their loss to Scarlets on Lansdowne Road.

England U-20 20 Ireland U-20 15

England Under-20s 20 Ireland Under-20s 9