Irish rugby thrust into role of pantomime villain

Two rounds remaining in this underwhelming Six Nations, and the consensus is that Ireland are bouncing happily towards their second successive Grand Slam, becoming the first nation to achieve the feat since the turn of the century.

They progress to this historic goal with the near unanimous badwill of their neighbours, especially those of the Celtic variety.

As it stands, Irish rugby fans are already resigned to the reality that if they do complete the back-to-back Slam, all they will hear in response is '*cough, quarter-final.'

"Well, Hamish, what are your thoughts on Ireland's second successive Grand Slam?

"Thanks Gregor, well first off I'd like to say quarter-final, quarter-final, quarter-final. You've got to hand it to quarter-final, quarter-final. On the other hand, going forward, quarter-final, quarter-final, quarter-final.

"So, in summing up, I would say quarter-final."

In Rugby Pass, French-based rugby writer Gavin Mortimer dismissed this "largely irrelevant Six Nations" and said that "the Irish can win as many Grand Slams as they want, but they're all meaningless if they can’t make an impression at the World Cup."

Six Nations tournaments immediately following World Cups can often be downers and not even the spectacle of Ireland mowing through the opposition can rescue that.

The French are in one of those moods where their heart isn't really in the spring jamboree, it having been ripped out by Cheslin Kolbe and co last October. Their greatest player, Antoine Dupont, is currently tricking about with the Sevens ahead of the Olympics.

England are proudly limited in their approach. Approximately, 40% of their matches consist of their scrum-half Alex Mitchell methodically rolling the ball back to himself with the sole of his