Eddie O'Sullivan has welcomed England's success in Paris as Ireland seek to profit from the latest twist to the RBS 6 Nations.

The championship heads into the penultimate round of matches with Triple Crown, title and Grand Slam still up for grabs.

Unbeaten Wales lead the race but with a trip to Croke Park to face an improving Ireland and a last hurrah against France to come, they face arguably their toughest fixtures yet.

England's 24-13 ambush of France has thrust the Irish back into the title hunt, leaving O'Sullivan gripped by another enthralling Six Nations.

"I had a feeling England would win the game," said the Ireland coach, who amassed his 50th Test scalp with Saturday's 34-13 triumph over Scotland.

"At the moment for some reason - and England are probably one of the only teams in the world capable of doing this - they have the hex over France.

"They beat them last year in the Six Nations, they did it again in the World Cup and overcame them once more on Saturday night.

"England winning is a great result for everyone else in the championship other than France.

"France were talked about as cruising through to a potential Grand Slam decider with Wales on the final day and now suddenly England's win puts that theory in its place.

"The result has completely opened the Six Nations up. The only team left with a Grand Slam opportunity are Wales.

"And we're still on for a Triple Crown, as are Wales, so our match in two weeks time has plenty at stake.

"It has been a fine championship already. We're just past the halfway mark and already there have already been a fair few casualties."

After the first tentative steps taken in a poor victory over Italy and creditable defeat to France, Ireland's post World Cup revival burst into life with a clinical rout of the Scots.

Recalled Ulster winger Tommy Bowe plundered two tries while David Wallace, Rob Kearney and Marcus Horan also crossed.

There was plenty of good work for Ireland to reflect on - not least Geordan Murphy's star turn at full-back - and the result sets up the meeting with Wales in a fortnight beautifully.

But O'Sullivan admits he is wary of a Welsh team in the midst of its own post World Cup transformation as the Midas touch of new coach Warren Gatland and his assistant Shaun Edwards continues.

"We saw in 2005 that Wales built momentum throughout the tournament and went on to win a Grand Slam," he said.

"Wales are a very difficult team to play against when they're confident.

"We have to be up front about it, accept they're firing at the moment and believe in what they're doing.

"That makes them a force to be reckoned with."

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