Six Nations: Lions, bonus points and other key issues in the 2017 tournament | Gerard Meagher

There is far more than the title at stake in the Six Nations, with the Lions’ tour of New Zealand, the tackle directives and residency adding intrigueFour years ago Wales’s opening defeat by Ireland was an eighth in a row. Shortly afterwards Sam Warburton, having temporarily lost his place and the captaincy, had drifted to 30-1 to lead the British & Irish Lions. A few weeks later 14 of the starting XV who thumped England on the final weekend were picked in Warren Gatland’s Lions squad, captained, of course, by Warburton. In short, how you finish the Six Nations is of far greater importance…