Alas, all thoughts of successive Grand Slams bit the dust in the bitingcold of the Stade de France, but Ireland at least got their championship bid back on track with a stirring win over England.
What do you make of householders turned austere pilgrims who live in tatty canvas tents on a flood plain of a river braving regular baths in freezing water, bitingcold, smoky skies and ear-splitting din for more than a month?