The opening Six Nations weekend has come and gone with plenty of British and Irish Lions hopefuls beginning to build a case for inclusion in the tour of Australia. While past performances will factor heavily in Andy Farrell’s thinking,

LIONS BOSS ANDY Farrell was watching on at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening as a host of potential tourists battled it out in their Six Nations opener. Farrell will also have closely studied Wales’ heavy defeat to France and Scotland’s win over Italy to assess the performances of a crop of other Lions candidates.

Who stood out? Who slipped up? This year's Six Nations doubles as an audition for selection for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in the summer.