Joe Schmidt wary as resurgent England loom

A tweak here and a favourable decision there and Joe Schmidt’s Ireland team could be contemplating a trip to Twickenham this Saturday which, if successful, would leave them odds-on to claim a third straight Six Nations title and a Grand Slam to boot.

With Italy and Scotland to follow, and both of them visiting Dublin, the back end of this campaign always offered the reigning champions the chance to pick up the pace down the mountain that will peak in southwest London next weekend.

Instead, the fine margins have fallen against them.