Ireland v England: Scrum key to Six Nations showdown

That England
go to Dublin with good prospects of winning is remarkable, given their
injury situation and the relative lack of preparation time.




They are not favourites, as home advantage is a significant factor, but the
game is now so much closer to call than seemed likely at the outset of the
tournament.




The Irish have not yet shown anywhere near the form they showed in the autumn
internationals and we have seen little in the way of invention from their
backline where the two centres have almost been functionaries in a game plan
that has been firmly rooted in p…