Donal Lenihan: A head-to-head with Les Bleus, but watch out for Italy

Let's hope Rome will provide the fitting backdrop for Ireland and the prospect of an unprecedented three Six Nations crowns in a row at the city’s Stadio Olimpico on St. Patrick’s weekend

Bundee Aki with head of athletic performance Aled Walters during an Ireland Rugby squad training session at The Campus in Quinto da Lago, Portugal. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

If Leinster’s loyal fan base has been spoiled over the years by their amazing consistency, winning over 90% of their games every season, their Irish counterparts - World Cups apart - have little cause for complaint either given the unprecedented levels of recent success achieved in rugby’s most revered international tournament, the Six Nations Championship.

As supporters of an older generation will appreciate, it wasn’t always like this. Since the expansion of the tournament from five to six, when Italy came on board in 2000, no side has managed to win the championship three times in a row.