Off The Ball guest presenter Brian O'Driscoll believes Jared Payne is still carrying full-back traits as he adjusts to life in the No 13 shirt for Ireland.
In one instance in the France game, a try opportunity was missed with Jonny Sexton and Payne close to the try-line, as the ball failed to make it to the flanks where Rob Kearney and Simon Zebo awaited.
"With the greatest respect to Jared, he's definitely a 15 that's playing in a 13 jersey. I think he's doing a really good job. But from that one circumstance my take on it was he was a 15 in a 13 jersey where he was hole running. He picked the line and decided that his 10 had to give it short to him because that's the line he was running. That's fine doing it a further channel out where Rob Kearney was going to be," said Brian, who felt it reduced the passing options for Sexton.
But Brian feels that Payne has been "an unsung hero" during the first two Six Nations games, and fully expects the Ulster player to make an impact as the tournament wears on.
He also believes a lot of the criticism of Ireland's performance against France has been "harsh" because it's "smart, winning" rugby, contrasting it to Les Bleus who are "not playing to their strengths".
Brian expects the England match to be tight and structured, and suggests that the Wales game could be the match for Ireland to stretch their wings -provided they have won three from three.
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