Conor Murray on the fine margins that helped him avoid serious injury

The line between triumph and disaster is seldom more than gossamer thin in the Six Nations.

One-score games are a staple of the spring scene: 15 since 2016, to be exact. An injury here or a bad bounce of a ball or refereeing decision there and title ambitions can melt like March snow. Expectation and ambition thwarted for another 12 months.

Ireland already had Paris, of course, but the manner of the last quarter against Wales two weeks ago may arguably trump that memorable finale given the myriad ways in which it could all have gone wrong and very nearly did.