Schmidt: Championship win would be ‘special achievement’

Joe Schmidt believes victory in France next Saturday and an RBS 6 Nations title in his first season in charge would represent an over-achievement for his Ireland side.

With away games in London and Paris on Ireland’s schedule for his first championship since taking over as head coach last summer, the former Leinster boss had targeted a top-three finish.

With one game to go, Ireland top the table with a significant points difference advantage over both England, who beat Wales 29-18 at Twickenham yesterday, and France, who scored a last-gasp 19-17 win against Scotland at Murrayfield.