Lowe: We haven't put in a complete 80-minute performance yet 

Ireland have claimed maximum points in the first two Six Nations rounds, they saw off Australia and South Africa in November and recovered from that first Test defeat in New Zealand to claim a 2-1 series win on All Black territory.

MORE TO COME: James Lowe during an Ireland rugby squad training session at the IRFU High-Performance Centre. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

James Lowe still doesn’t believe it was a try but not because of anything to do with the right foot that swung like a pendulum as he made his dramatic play at the Havelock Square End.

Know what? He didn’t even notice his toes brushing the turf. No, the reason Lowe grimaced as he was swamped by his ecstatic teammates 21 minutes into that French game was because of what he saw under his eyes as he touched down.