Robinson faces ultimate test

WHILE France remain the bookies favourites to regain the championship they last won in 2004, Ireland’s sole Six Nations focus should be on beating England in Twickenham, thus securing the Triple Crown for only the eighth time in our long rugby history.

With the game in Cardiff kicking off two hours before the Twickenham clash, at least Ireland will have the added advantage of knowing exactly what is required to also win the tournament for the first time since 1985.

England’s fall from grace since winning the World Cup in 2003 has been remarkable. Of the five sides who have tasted World Cup glory since the inaugural event in 1987, England’s reign has been the least impressive. Even within the Six Nations championship, last Sunday’s defeat in Paris was their seventh in the 14 games they have played in the tournament since Martin Johnson lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in Sydney.