1) May gives England speed and variety

Much has been said about England's improving pack but there are also now signs of life in the back-line. Jonny May has added pace and inventiveness and, on a better pitch, the Gloucester wing might have had even more joy. He and Jack Nowell are always keen to go looking for the ball while the midfield understanding between Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell is also developing nicely. Might that prompt a switch to the left wing for Manu Tuilagi when the latter regains fitness? It is a possibility if Burrell prospers against the top-class midfield combos Ireland and Wales will bring to Twickenham. Robert Kitson

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2) Wales need fresh legs

In the modern age there's no room for old adages. Hangover from a Lions tour? No such thing. Except Wales looked weary of body, dulled of spirit. They cannot change their game – Warrenball – because Snowdonia cannot be shifted in a fortnight, but fresh legs and minds are required. Surely the coach cannot think of replacing Adam Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Mike Phillips, Sam Warburton and/or Dan Lydiate, can he? He can, and he has. Ask BOD, ask Ireland. Eddie Butler

• Match report: Ireland 26-3 Wales

3) Scotland cannot afford to ostracise their forwards

Scotland have not scored a try in their last four matches, seven penalties against Australia and Ireland sandwiched in between pointless displays against South Africa and England. It was not down to their backs on Saturday: they received the same service as rail passengers on Christmas Day. Their forwards were overpowered up front and at the breakdown and they lost five of their line-outs: they cannot afford to ostracise the likes of Kelly Brown and Richie Gray. Italy in Rome are up next and a similar display from the pack will prompt a similar scoreline and leave the incoming head coach Vern Cotter wondering what he has done. Paul Rees

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4) Who is O'Driscoll's successor?

It looked for a horrible moment as if a glorious career – one of the greatest of the modern era – was about to be ended in the most disappointing way. A dubious hit from Scott Williams left Brian O'Driscoll in a heap on the floor. The medics rushed on and tended to him for a good couple of minutes. We feared the worst. As did the medics when O'Driscoll did not reply to any of their questions.

It turned out he had been winded so badly he had no breath to speak. For two minutes. It does beg the question, though, when the squad-depth-focused Joe Schmidt is going to introduce the next 13. Paul O'Connell and Mike Ross were both substituted in the 55th minute to give their understudies a run. Fergus McFadden, Darren Cave, Robbie Henshaw – one of them is going to have to step up on a permanent basis at the end of this season. Michael Aylwin

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5) A chip off the old block

Rugby fans of a certain age will remember with some pleasure the sight of Eric Bonneval running at defences in the 1980s, linking up with the likes of Denis Charvet and Didier Cordorniou. Bonneval played 18 times for France, scoring five tries in the 1987 championship, including three against the Scots. His debut had come three years earlier when he scored a try in a losing cause in Auckland. Fast forward 30 years and the France team has welcomed his son, Hugo, to the wing. He didn't have a lot to do but did appear from nowhere on Yoann Huget's shoulder to take the pass and score the third try in Paris, matching his father's achievement of a try on debut. "The dad was quick," said France coach Philippe Saint-André, after France's 30-10 win, and who played against Bonneval père, "but the son is quicker." Barney Spender

• Match report: France 30-10 Italy

6) Damned lies and statistics

Italy had 58% possession in Paris and 61% territory. They dominated the line-outs and won two scrums against the head. They edged the penalty count 16-13. And yet the scoreboard shows France winning 30-10, the only statistic that ultimately matters. What the others do show, however, is that this Italian team is rolling its sleeves up and doing some serious work, a testament to their commitment. Where is falters though is in the finishing. Two of the French tries came from turnover ball when the Italians were looking to attack. "We have to learn to put points on the board when we have the ball in hand," said their captain Sergio Parisse. One area they can certainly improve is in their goalkicking as Gonzalo Garcia and Tommaso Allen missed three of their four penalties in the first half. BS

• Match report: France 30-10 Italy