Triple Crown not just a consolation prize, says Donal Lenihan

RTÉ rugby analyst Donal Lenihan believes that France will win the Six Nations Championship tomorrow but insists that the Triple Crown, which Ireland can claim with a victory over Scotland, is no mere consolation prize.

Andy Farrell's men are in with an outside shot of taking the Six Nations itself.

In the day's late game, France welcome England to Paris where a win for Les Bleus would see them crowned champions but defeat coupled with an Irish win would be enough for Ireland.

But even if the Triple Crown is the only silverware Ireland lift, Lenihan believes that will represent a successful campaign.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said: "I don’t think the players will look on it as a consolation prize.

"Everybody has highlighted the fact that Ireland haven’t won a trophy at home since 2004, so from the players’ perspective there’s a huge historic significance around the Triple Crown.

"I also think it’s important for them to finish the campaign on a high. They’ve played well through the championship and had a couple of blips along the way, but they’ve recovered well.

"I think winning tomorrow and winning silverware would be huge for this group of players.

"People were asking before the 2019 World Cup, did we peak too soon? This is a team that’s evolving all the time.

"I think there’s cohesion in selection, there’s clarity in the way they want to play but there’s also a sense that they’ve a journey to go on yet.

"If they do end finishing second behind France, well France are probably the best team in the world at the moment, albeit they’ll have a battle on their hands tomorrow night.

"I think, second place a year out from the World Cup, who would scoff at that?"

While Ireland fans will be hoping for a England reversal in Paris,