Six Nations: What have we learnt so far?

Ha no, Henry isn't my real name but I know exactly who you are thinking of.

Thanks Armchair, don't let the name fool you I am Irish too and an OC like you. I do know that most people see POM as a 6 but I have never really thought he is physical enough. His greatest strength is in the lineout and maybe at the breakdown at poaching (not traditional 6 stuff). Would prefer a 6 who dominates the collision zones, clears out rucks and gets over the gainline much more like Stander and Ferris used to.

Yes Stander is playing well but he is not an 8. He is an excellent bulldozer of a six so was really disappointed when Caelan Doris who is a natural 8 and great ball player went off injured in the first game. Dont like the back row balance with O'Mahony at 6 (not a six) and Stander at 8.

I also thought Sexton was over petulant. I am watching the Villa Gesel rugby murder trial in Argentina with interest. Something similar famously happened in Ireland about 20 years ago.

Surprised to see Clongowes mentioned on this site. I also went to school there.

Ireland played against Wales with the tenacity of 2018. CJ Stander with another exceptional game on both sides of the ball while Conor Murray played well at 9 as he feels the pressure from John Cooney and Johnny Sexton also looked the part too. Wales may not have the balance of last year, at least currently with their injuries, but they are always difficult to play and it needed a very focused and tenacious Ireland to win. On to Twickenham in a fortnight for what potentially could be a title decider between England & Ireland. France have their moments of lack of concentration but they sure are an enjoyable team to watch. I suggest looking up Baptiste Serin's late try. And again Gregory Alldritt, France's 8 was superb and like Stander has been his team's man of the match in each of their wins. France are fun to watch, especially Dupont and Ntamack. As for England's win over Scotland. I think the weather conditions, which were awful, gives them a pass. But Stuart Hogg, for all the good work he delivers, again made a costly mistake which likely cost his team the win.

He was neither of those things, Carlos if you listen to what he actually said. He was quite astute in how he related to the ref, particularly around a couple of key decisions on the breakdown, involving Stander, who might otherwise have been carded sooner.

I actually thought Sexton was a bit over the top with the referee the last game. With a more impatient ref he would have gotten into trouble. He came across as whiny and petulant.

Not sure what you're describing as the last decade but since 2010, Ireland and England have played each other 10 times in the 6N and won 5 matches apiece, with both teams winning three at home and two away. Ireland are 11-9 overall in the head-to-head in the Six Nations. I agree about over-confidence, but I also recognise which team will be likely turning up with more confidence and momentum at Twickenham.

That may well come to pass. Oddly, they've started better than expected - mostly with their own fans. Across the three Six Nations tournaments - Mens, Women's and U20s, - Ireland have played six and won six. That's only to be expected some might rightly say - at home to only Scotland and Wales so far. But there were some glimpses in the Wales game that Catt - now in charge of the backline - has loosened the restrictive shackles of the Schmidt-know-the-playbook-and-your-role-off-by-heart-cos-there'll-be-questions-later regime with the back three allowed to roam and attack more freely. Equally, Fogarty and Easterby have been working with the pack and giving a different license to the backrowers to increase their carries and metres made - oh and offload too! It's unfortunate that Ireland lost Caelan Doris, their new number 8, to a HIA in the opening minutes of the first test, but Stander certainly rises to a challenge to his test place. And so has O'Mahony with the ferocity and intensity of the Munster duo's combined play. Furlong, has indeed, seemed to regain some of his form and confidence under the eye of his familiar last-season Leinster scrum coach, John Fogarty. Garry Ringrose is out with an injury until Round 4, but Henshaw seemed to revel in a return to the 13 shirt alongside his old mucker, Aki, from their Connacht playing days. And, so far, Sexton seems to be enjoying getting the captaincy for the Six Nations campaign with excellent game management on display in the Wales test. Farrell knows he needs to give more game time to the newbies, Kelleher (hooker), Deegan and O'Donoghue in the backrow, Cooney and Byrne at half-backs, and Chris Farrell and McCloskey in midfield, if he wants to start developing further depth and wider selections for the July tour to Oz. Oh - and Robert Baloucoune on the wing, who looks like he might enjoy the dry tracks down under with his turn of speed. At this stage, I'd put France in the favourite's seat, (the bookies have them third) with the outcome of the Eng/Irl match in Twickenham in Round 3 determining whether Les Bleus will be playing Ireland for a winner-takes-all Grand Slam title in the grand finale match of the tournament next month. All we need now is for Stockdale to start scoring tries again instead of leaving it to Larmour and Conway.

They seemed to be a brain explosion away from beating some pretty good welsh. Surely the French are back in business

"this one definitely their best in about a decade. " Yes, agree with that. Might take a while to really develop this team fully, but they now have home grown class players coming through, to add to the imports....good balance.

I probably do have a few viruses, too. The worst affected seems to be Owen, though. Which makes sense.