THE dust has settled and the curtain has come down on an enthralling Six Nations where Ireland won their third grand slam and cemented their position as the second best team in the world.

What was clear from the moment that Johnny Sexton’s beautifully struck drop-goal deep into injury time won the game in Paris was coach Joe Schmidt’s side’s cast-iron will to win a game seemingly lost.

That killer instinct was to the fore against England in Ireland’s final match. Scrum-half Conor Murray got the ball and instead of kicking to touch for the half-time whistle threw a stunning pass to Jacob Stockdale, who cleverly kicked ahead and dived on the ball for a killer blow.