‘It’s a massive week, an exciting week, a challenging week’

There is plenty of time, perhaps too much, for Ireland’s players to consider their Grand Slam fate but Conor Murray believes the muted response to last Saturday’s Six Nations title success is a good indication that the countdown to Twickenham will proceed in an orderly fashion.

As the nation licks its lips and dares to dream of Ireland’s first Grand Slam since 2009 following a third Six Nations championship in five seasons, the bubble so often cited by head coach Joe Schmidt as the protective blanket enveloping his players can only go so far in keeping his squad focused on the task at hand.

Even the absence of any injury concerns in the Ireland medical update issued yesterday means aspirations to match the heroes of 09 and their only predecessors in 1948 will be difficult to ignore.