Twickenham stadium is showing its age. And English rugby appears caught in a bygone era, surpassed by the progress of other nations in both strategy and execution on and off the field.
Ireland's performance has stepped up a gear from the rugby world cup and from last year's tournament. Here are five ways the team is developing.
Ireland has some good rugby teams, but the national U20 side is arguably the outstanding one. The U20s have won 22 games out of 24 since 2019. What's behind the success of Ireland's underage development system?
In Marseille on Friday night, Ireland found another level. The post-Sexton era is looking promising.
Andy Farrell is not thinking in four-year cycles. This squad is optimised for winning the 2024 Six Nations, not the 2027 World Cup.
The longer Scotland keep the game close, the more confident they will become as they look to take advantage of Ireland's poorer second half performances.
When the ball is in play, a rugby referee has 138 potential penalties he may award, a staggering amount to assess while keeping up with elite professional athletes.
The lineout will be a key battle in the tactical war at the Aviva. Ireland will have a plan to restrict France's attacking ambitions.
Coaches would typically be replaced due to poor performance in the first part of the cycle, but it is very unusual to be let go within 10 months of the biggest competition as in the cases of Eddie Jones and Wayne Pivac.
The Ireland head coach is shaping a new era for his team. Backing his own instincts and his players' ingenuity, he is letting go of the past.
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