So, how was that for a World Cup taster?

Ireland and Scotland served up an entertaining, if not technically sound, starter. The Irish were forced to dig in but came out 28-22 winners in Dublin.

And then England showed flashes of attacking flair to get supporters salivating, but looked messy as it dragged on and did just enough to overcome France 19-14.

Join us again next Saturday, when we start with Italy hosting Scotland, and France and England go at it again in Paris, with what will probably be stronger looking sides.

Until then, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Matt Dawson
Former England Scrum Half

"You can't take him to the World Cup for me. He played 80 mins and credit for that. But the way the game went in the second half there was nothing for him to do. The great thing about Burgess is he doesn't make mistakes with ball in hand. But unfortunately, if you're going to be really picky, positionally he wasn't great. He played like a six rather than a 12. There are things that are instinctively he doesn’t know what to do."

Lancaster is giving nothing away in his centre pairing and whether Henry Slade or Sam Burgess have booked their place in the World Cup party. But he says both men impressed today.

Image source, Getty Images

Slade is told that it's tradition for a winning debutant to sing a song on the coach home. 

He says it will probably be Backstreet Boys' I Want It That Way.

For those young uns out there, the Backstreet Boys are a highly regarded folk band renowned for their intelligent lyrics...

What of our centre debuts? Henry Slade showed some good vision, he might have played his way into the final squad. Sam Burgess put in some hefty hits, although didn't show much with ball in hand. He also got sin-binned for a silly tug of a shirt, which will have been noted.  

A curate's egg of a performance by England today, they were excellent at times in the first half but after the break things rather fell apart. Some wonderful individual moments of magic by England's backs, but England found life very rough up front. But - and it is a big but - there was a lot of chopping and changing among the ranks. France number eight Picamoles was magnificent, you have to say...

Atonio goes on another rumble... but that's the 80 minutes and it's an England penalty, won by Haskell... and there's the final whistle... relief is the overwhelming feeling among the England faithful, their team just about made it over the line, despite bits falling off the team along the way...

Image source, PA

England burgled again at the line-out, too much loop on Cowan-Dickie's delivery. Kockott through the line but can't get his back-of-the-hand offload away. May it is with the most carries this evening, 13 so far. Here's Kockott again, bursting into England's 22. May nicks it back, Farrell slices his clearance...

Matt Dawson
Former England Scrum Half

"Haskell's been impacftul but there hasn't been the organisation in the England side in he second half. England's defence has been very good. Remember, these boys are going to be tired after working so hard this week."

Another England line-out throw goes awry, not a great debut so far for Cowan-Dickie. Kockott clears, another England line-out...

Image source, AFP/GETTY

Another scrum collapses like a smashed meringue, it's been torrid up front for England since the break. Better, France peeling off and England winning the penalty. Farrell kicks to the corner...

Cowan-Dickie struggling a bit at the line-out, although he's been bustling in the loose. An England scrum collapses, worrying times for the hosts up front at the moment. Spedding thrusting out of his own 22, but it's another England put-in after another France knock-on. 

Image source, Getty Images

It's very harem-scarem now, both teams all over the place in terms of shape. Hang on, here's an England try, Jonny May pouncing on a hack-through... no it isn't, a Frenchman was in touch when he scooped the ball back into play. A Frenchman came in with a trip after the ball had gone, pick the bones out of that lot...

England back to their full quota but here come France on the counter after England are turned over. Great take by Dulin... England are turned over at the breakdown again, as news reaches me that Brookes might have broken his wrist, although that is not confirmed yet.

Image source, Getty Images

Cowan-Dickie being a live-wire, wriggling out of a couple of tackles before offloading. Farrell with the up and under, Slade takes and just manages to bring it under control. France get it back and attempt to run it out of their own 22, only for a forward pass to bring things to a halt. Twelvetrees on for Slade in the centres...

Image source, AFP/GETTY