Donal Lenihan: Farrell's Ireland have carved a gap that extends beyond the table

PRESSURE POINT: Robbie Henshaw dives over to score Ireland’s fifth try, which was subsequently disallowed, during the Guinness Six Nations clash with Italy at the Aviva Stadium. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Just two games in and already Andy Farrell has exposed 30 players to Six Nations action. Despite that level of rotation, Ireland sit top of the championship table on a maximum 10 points, two ahead of nearest challengers England, with an incredibly healthy points differential of +57.

To put that in context, England are next best in that category on +5 while the remaining four sides are all posting a negative differential. Could things be any better? When looked upon in that context, coupled with the fact that an always challenging away game to France has already been successfully negotiated, it’s very difficult to envision anything other than another championship success for Farrell’s men at this juncture.