Pause for breath? More a sharp intake before England

RBS Six Nations: Ireland 18 France 11: A pause for breath. A chance to reflect, rest the aching bodies and take stock.That’s the idea, anyway, as the RBS 6 Nations embarks on a mini-break after rounds one and two.

In truth, it is anything but, as Ireland go back into camp in Galway for a couple of days, their next challenge already concentrating the minds as the prospect of England in Dublin in 13 days looms large.

A win over France, however disjointed they were and however ugly it was, should not be undervalued, particularly when it completed a first back-to-back success over Les Bleus since 2000-2001. Yet such is the nature of this great championship that regardless of the breaks in the schedule, the next assignment is never very far away, and when it involves a meeting with the only other unbeaten team left standing, that pause for breath is reduced to a sharp intake before moving on to the task at hand.