Stuart Lancaster coy on Aviva clash

RBS Six Nations: England 47 Italy 17: England full-back Mike Brown receives medical attention for a head injury.

Stuart Lancaster didn’t want to take the bait. He didn’t want to say that whoever wins the game between Ireland and England in a fortnight’s time will win the Six Nations and, in all likelihood, a Grand Slam.

There were, the England head coach said, kicking games to sort, emotional resources to find and injuries to assess.