While most newspapers this week focussed on Jonny Wilkinson’s exclusion from the 2013 British and Irish Lions squad, head coach Warren Gatland made a far more surprising omission when failing to name Chris Robshaw in his 37-man squad.

The England captain, who almost led his country to what would have been a magnificent Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year, was expected to walk into this squad, what with his experience and position at England.

However, Gatland’s decision to omit Robshaw – instead selecting Justin Tipuric and Sean O’Brien for the outside flanker position – is a stark reminder that …

Six Nations 2013 Round Five Fixtures:

Saturday, 16th March 2013 at 14:30: Italy  v  Ireland at Stadio Olimpico
Saturday, 16th March 2013 at 17:00: Wales  v  England at Millennium Stadium
Saturday, 16th March 2013 at 20:00: France  v  Scotland at Stade de France

Italy  v  Ireland Teams:

Italy Team to Play Ireland:

15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovambattista Venditti, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain) 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Reserves: …

Six Nations 2013 Round One Fixtures:

Saturday, 9th March 2013 at 14:30: Scotland v Wales at Murrayfield
Saturday, 9th March 2013 at 17:00: Ireland v France at Aviva Stadium
Sunday, 10th March 2013 at 15:00: England v Italy at Twickenham

Scotland  v  Wales Teams:

Scotland Team to Play Wales:

15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Robert Harley, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Ryan Grant.
Reserves: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Moray …

England’s dogged and sometimes untidy 23-13 win over France was vital in their pursuit of the Grand Slam and proves again that they can dig in for victory when required.

The rugby odds suggested it was always expected to be close at Twickenham. It was the visitors who started better,though, with Wesley Fofana’s brilliant try the highlight early on.

But England withstood the pressure and eventually gained the upper hand, thanks again to the kicking of Owen Farrell and Toby Flood, before Manu Tuiliagi crucially went over.

France looked much more like the side that was tipped by Betfair Rugby…

Six Nations 2013 Round Three Fixtures:

Saturday, 23rd February 2013 at 9:30:00EST: Italy  v  Wales at Stadio Olimpico
Saturday, 23rd February 2013 at 12:00:00EST: England  v  France at Twickenham
Sunday, 24th February 2013 at 9:00:00EST: Scotland  v  Ireland at Murrayfield

Italy  v  Wales Teams:

Italy Team to Play Wales:

Andrea Masi; Giovanbattista Venditti, Tommaso Benvenuti, Gonzalo Canale, Luke McLean; Kristopher Burton, Edoardo Gori; Andrea Lo Cicero, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Martin Castrogiovanni (captain), Antonio Pavanello, Francesco Minto, Alessandro Zanni, Simone Favaro, Manoa Voaswai
Reserves: Davide Gizazzon, Alberto de Marchi, Lorenzo Cittadini, Quintin Geldenhuys, Paul Derbyshire, Tobias Botes, Luciano Orquera, Gonzalo Garcia.

Wales …