Pressure on for Ireland's Six Nations daunting test against England

Nobody said it would be easy for Ireland, this 2016 RBS Six Nations championship, but two games in, they are already looking at something of a doomsday scenario.

The draw with Wales and last Saturday’s defeat in Paris mean that the next appointment for Joe Schmidt’s team is a must-win affair if they are to achieve the head coach’s ambition of finishing the campaign in the top half of the table.

Eyebrows were raised three weeks ago when Schmidt spoke in London at the launch of the 2016 championship and stated a top-three position in the final table would represent a successful campaign.