Andy Farrell is not ruling himself out of the running for a place on the Lions coaching staff even if both that tour and an Ireland tour take place this summer.

While uncertainty surrounds the scheduled eight-game tour of South Africa – talk of a 'home' tour or taking on the Springboks in Australia have been mooted – head coach Warren Gatland has earmarked Farrell for a role.

Ireland have plans to tour the Pacific Islands this summer but the Covid-19 situation means nothing can be set in stone. 

Asked if he had any further information, Farrell said: "There's nothing that I know of that's going on at this moment in time that gives any clarity on the situation whatsoever.

"We don't know whether there is a Lions tour going on, we don't know at this moment in time whether there is a southern tour going on with Ireland.

"I hear that hopefully by the end of the month we will know something more concrete." 

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Asked if he would be interested in being part of the Lions coaching set-up for a third time, he said: "Like I've always said - and it's the truth - I will always do the right thing for Irish rugby. 

"At this moment in time, we don't know whether one tour is going ahead, whether both tours are going ahead.

"We've no clarity and no certainty on anything yet, so I suppose we will have to wait until the end of the month. 

Pushed on whether the Irish tour going ahead would rule him out of the Lions reckoning, the 45-year-old said: "Again, we don't know what that tour looks like yet. I don’t know what’s happening as far as the Lions is concerned regarding warm-up matches.

"I suppose the fall-out from those warm-up matches is going to have different ramifications on what happens... and who is available for tours.

"We don’t know what the map looks like."

O'Mahony signs new Ireland and Munster contract

Ireland beat Italy 48-10 at the weekend to claim their first win of the Guinness Six Nations campaign. 

Farrell admits the remaining two games, against Scotland and England will define how the championship is viewed. 

"Yeah, they are two massive games for us," said Farrell, who expects all his squad to be "fully fit" at the start of next week.  

"They are the old enemies, aren't they. The rivalry is as ripe as ever with Scotland and England. All three teams want to finish the Six Nations on a high and that’s why we love it so much.

"The goalposts keep changing week to week in the Six Nations and there’s an emotional aspect that comes to that as well. We know going to Murrayfield, in the recent past we’ve come unstuck there.

"We know how well they are playing at the minute and how well that we’ll need to play to come away with a victory."

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Ireland ran in six tries in what was a generally improved performance following dispiriting defeats to Wales and France. 

"There are plenty of areas [to work on] like every single game," added the former England centre.

"You are always going to over-analyse your own game and work on what could have been better.

"I suppose after a couple of defeats and going into the games with a little bit of pressure on the lads that we asked to show our character with the right attitude and turn out to the game.

"Rather than dwell on the negatives, I think we can now focus on the positives and I think our attitude was top class going into that game.

"It was mentioned during the week that you are on a hiding to nothing. I suppose that's how it seemed from the outside but we judge ourselves by our own attitude and application, how we attack the game.

"I’ve been involved with many a team that’s nearly slipped up against Italy before and history shows that teams have slipped up against Italy before because of the wrong attitude or the sloppiness of how they play. 

"I thought we got that spot on, especially in the first half."

Follow Munster v Connacht (7.35pm, Friday) and Ulster v Leinster (7.35pm, Saturday) via our live blogs on RTE.ie and the RTÉ News app or listen live on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra and RTÉ Radio 1.

Follow Scotland v Ireland (kick-off 3pm, Sunday 14 March) via our live blog on RTE.ie and the RTÉ News app or listen live on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport. Highlights on Against the Head on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.