Farrell facing tough selection calls ahead of 'the test of all tests' against France

While it would take a brave call for Andy Farrell to tweak a winning formula, it would be take an even braver call to ignore two returning British and Irish Lions.

Ireland's impressive Guinness Six Nations opener against Wales was done so without two of last season's best performers; Irish Rugby's Player of the Year Robbie Henshaw, and one of their turnover leaders Iain Henderson.

Henshaw wasn't risked after picking up a minor injury in the week before the tournament, while Henderson was given extra time to recover from the ankle injury which has sidelined him since December.

However, as the curtain closes on Saturday's 29-7 win against Wales, and attention turns to France in Paris, both players have been declared fully fit by Farrell.

What to do with Henshaw will be the hardest call to make. In the four-and-a-half years since Bundee Aki made his Irish debut, chance has dictated that there have been very few occasions on which he, Henshaw and Garry Ringrose have all been fit and available and fighting for two centre spots.

Possession of the jersey is vital, both Aki and Ringrose hardly put a foot wrong on Saturday, scoring a try apiece as Henshaw watched on, but the Leinster man has credit in the bank from his career-year in 2021, making a clean sweep of the major Irish Rugby awards, while starting all three Test matches on the British and Irish tour of South Africa last summer, reaffirming his status as a Big Game performer.

"We will see," said Farrell on Saturday evening when asked what his plans are for Henshaw's return.

"You guys know as well as us that it's going to take a whole squad over the course the Six Nations to win this competition.

"It's very tough and demanding, not just because of the nature of the games but the