Ireland may be inactive at present following the postponement of last Saturday's Six Nations Championship game with Wales, but it was good to note that things Irish hadn't disappeared totally from the television coverage of the weekend's other matches between England and Scotland at Twickenham and Italy and France at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome.

First of all we had Ireland centre Rob Henderson ensconced in a panel discussion as part of the BBC's coverage of the game in Rome, and then on flicking to Sky Sports for the England game, this column noted that a couple of Irishmen led the way in several stats categories. While Stuart Barnes waxed lyrical about Scottish second row Scott Murray, up flashed a stat for the most lineout steals to date in the Six Nations.

Who was leading the way? None other than Ireland's Malcolm O'Kelly with Alan Quinlan third. Murray snatched the advantage in this area during the match but it was heartening to note that even though the national side is not involved at present, the Irish still retain a presence.