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RUGBY SIX NATIONS:THE MUNDANE matter of whether the injured Irish backrow Denis Leamy trained yesterday was swiftly put to bed. “He did, yes, and he’s fully fit and ready to go,” said Ireland manager Paul McNaughton at the Ireland team hotel in Killiney. But this has been an unusual week as much about psychology as physical well-being and the waters are now sufficiently muddied to declare a national state of confusion.

A deliberate comment from coach Warren Gatland about his Welsh players disliking the Irish more than the rest of the Six Nations troops, followed promptly by, not quite an apology, but a fleshed out version of what he really meant, seemed almost tactical. Hit them with the bad news then took some of it back. Warren Gatland, bad cop, good cop.