Jones was forced to summon the cavalry from the bench to finally break Les Bleus' resistance.

For captain Best it was a defeat of Ireland's own making.

Paddy Jackson's converted try saw Ireland rally from 21-5 down to lead 22-21, only for Greig Laidlaw to slot two late penalties and secure a fine victory.

Ireland should consider this defeat a self-inflicted wound.

This was not the start Ireland fans expected.

We examine five key battlegrounds for Saturday's clash.

A huge year for the women's team begins with their Six Nations opener against Scotland.

Ireland's South Africa-born forward revealed the Springboks have supposedly "written off" Joe Schmidt's side following the failed defence of their RBS 6 Nations title.

Ulster hooker Best assumed the captaincy for the RBS 6 Nations after Paul O'Connell's retirement, guiding injury-hit Ireland to a respectable third-placed finish.

The Ireland Women produced their most complete performance of the Six Nations to run out 45-12 winners over Scotland at sunny Donnybrook.

CJ Stander has launched an impassioned defence of "tough guy" Johnny Sexton, insisting Ireland's premier playmaker would never play-act.

Ulster hooker Best hailed Schmidt as "one of the best coaches I've worked with" as he called on the former Leinster boss to remain with Ireland beyond next summer.

Asked for his views on the Marler-Lee episode, Wales head coach Gatland said: "Look, we have no issue. It was just a bit of banter, as far as I am concerned. And that's the way that Samson said it.”

Ireland must ignore any threat of slipping into a World Cup 2019 pool of death ahead of Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland, according to Conor O'Shea.

Ireland's most-capped hooker sat out Tuesday's training with a tight calf in what assistant coach Richie Murphy deemed a precautionary move.

Mike Brown has revealed that the abuse he received from Welsh Twitter trolls in the build-up to Saturday's 25-21 victory inspired his best performance of theSix Nations.

Kearney missed Saturday's 58-15 win over Italy with hamstring trouble, and after further assessment on Monday Ireland have been forced to admit defeat in the British and Irish Lion's fitness bid.

Jamie Roberts has backed experience as an essential element of Wales' bid to repeat their World Cup heroics and floor fellow RBS 6 Nations heavyweights England on Saturday.

Healy had been expected to feature from the bench against the Italians in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

The initial, and most eye-catching decision was to omit centre Stuart McCloskey from the matchday squad.

Joe Schmidt announced his squad for the game this afternoon and has named Payne to start at 13 alongside Robbie Henshaw.

Munster's Jack O'Donoghue has been added to the forwards panel and is one of two uncapped players in the squad

Scrum-half Murray received eight stitches around his eye after being kicked in the face by full-back Mike Brown in Ireland's 21-10 defeat to England at Twickenham on Saturday.

England full-back Mike Brown has escaped a citing for the incident that left Conor Murray requiring stitches to a wound in his head in Saturday's 21-10 RBS 6 Nations victory over Ireland.

Schmidt also hinted he feels that England full-back Mike Brown could face a citing for kicking Conor Murray in the face when trying to boot the ball clear from a ruck.

Rob Kearney said that Ireland were hugely disappointed after this evening’s 21-10 defeat to England in Twickenham, but felt that ‘maybe the gap wasn’t as big as the scoreboard suggested’.

England head coach Eddie Jones is to implement a self-imposed media blackout in response to the outcry over his comments that he was concerned for the welfare of Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton.

Simon Lewis analyses the key moments at Twickenham as Ireland failed to register a first win of this Six Nations tournament.

Scotland claimed their first RBS 6 Nations win in two years as they beat Italy 36-20 in Rome.

"If we are distracted by that then it is something we are wasting energy and time on."

"Joe Launchbury is unlucky to miss out through injury. Maro Itoje is selected as a result and we're pleased for him," head coach Eddie Jones said.

Ireland face England at Twickenham on Saturday, looking to get their campaign back on track after an opening weekend draw with Wales followed by defeat to France.

Dave Kearney came off in the first half with a shoulder injury, as a result of a recklessly high tackle by French captain Guilhem Guirado.

Head coach Tom Tierney has made one change to the side that beat Wales 21-3 at Donnybrook last Saturday.

Joe Schmidt has made three changes to his starting XV for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with France.

”It is a six-day turnaround so we will have to assess that later in the week and see where he is at.”

Wales could know more in the next 24 hours or so about fly-half Dan Biggar’s prospects of facing RBS 6 Nations opponents Scotland next Saturday.

Conor Murray believes injury-hit Ireland have reasserted their RBS 6 Nations title credentials by drawing with Wales.

“There was no chance we would have underestimated Ireland. Ireland are always one of the toughest international sides.

The South Africa-born flanker proved his Test pedigree with a bullocking performance on his Ireland bow, helping Joe Schmidt’s men force a share of the spoils at the Aviva Stadium.

Injury-hit Ireland belied the absence of 10 frontline stars to grind to a hugely-creditable 16-16 RBS 6 Nations draw with Wales in Dublin.

One thing that is making Irish fans very happy is the performance of CJ Stander.

“I know he has had really positive age-grade success but there is nothing like the senior Test match arena to find out how someone acquits themselves."

"It's very exciting to have so many new players involved in their first Six Nations game."