SUPER Saturday lived up to its billing as England got to within six points of denying Ireland a second successive championship in a helter-skelter game against the mercurial French.

The final three matches of the Six Nations saw an escalating points difference to be overcome as Wales ran riot in Rome scoring 61 points to Italy’s 10.

Ireland eclipsed that as they put Scotland to the sword, racking up 40 points with 10 in reply and setting England a target of having to win by 26 clear points.