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After a gentle regression in 2025, Irish rugby is now capitulating in front of our very eyes in 2026. If you don’t believe me, remember just this:
Bielle-Biarrey (12', 46'), Jalibert (21'), Ollivon (33'), Attissogbe (80')
Tries
Timoney (58'), Milne (61')
Ramos (13', 34', 47', 80')
Conversions
Prendergast (58', 61')
Ramos (27')
Penalties
After a gentle regression in 2025, Irish rugby is now capitulating in front of our very eyes in 2026. If you don’t believe me, remember just this:
Three teams in the Challenge Cup for the first time ever, and trailing 29-0 at one point in Paris.
Simply not good enough.
Whatever happens next remains to be seen. Be it a false dawn or a sudden halt of the downturn; it’s okay to be pessimistic right now.
A French Farce
Call it what it was, Thursday night was pretty abysmal. For the second time in two season’s; Ireland were blown out of proportion by the French. To make things worse, France did not even need to play for 80 minutes, in either game. That’s as hard as it gets.
From missed tackles to heads dropping, a stale attack and just a general malaise across the board; there was barely a facet of this game that Ireland can say they dominated. Set-piece achieved parity, but it was a rare glimpse on a dark night.
So, how did Ireland find themselves 29-0 behind with less than an hour played? Part French magic, part Irish apathy. And I do not use that word lightly. Whether it’s age or just general fatigue, Ireland played like disinterested actors, as opposed to the swashbuckling action movie stars in blue shirts.
Andy Farrell gets heralded as a great man manager, but if he is, he cannot be happy with the effort levels on display at times. More on him later…
November Sped Up
To make matters worse, Ireland’s slow regression we felt last November, now feels to be on 2x speed. New Zealand methodically frustrated and stymied Ireland, while South Africa laid down a visible trauma marker via their scrum. France however, death by a thousand line breaks.
It just goes to show that the once unstoppable force, as recently as this fixture in 2024, are now beatable in multiple different ways. The fact that France were once again the ones who made lightest work of the 2023 Grand Slam champions, is testament to them.
Because of these increasing speed of decline, the prospect of facing England in Round 3 is now daunting. They might be boring, but Steve Borthwick’s team are legit, and are better than Ireland on paper. It will be up to the visitors to prove that they are not for budging, but at this rate, who knows.
Coaching Questions
Regardless of stature or silverware, the blame cannot be squared solely at the players. Underperform they did, but Ireland being swatted aside by three of the top nations consecutively is on those above them as well.
Andy Farrell, as conductor of the orchestra, needs to come out and be brave. Rotation, droppings, harsh press conference words against the established front liners. Something… anything.
The Lions HC also needs to whip Ireland’s play into shape. Both Farrell and Andrew Goodman must take accountability over the attack which seems to the untrained eye to be reliant on a 9/10 axis who can be swallowed up, without the comfort blanket of an electric back three. Ireland have scored 13, 13 and 14 points this season to New Zealand, South Africa and France.
Similarly, the Johnny Sexton led kicking game and Simon Easterby coached defence left a lot to be desired. Sexton’s influence is a marmite question as is, but he may just need time to bed in. But for Easterby, his system seems hamstrung by some obvious tackle weaknesses.
What next?
Ireland play host to Italy, in Dublin, in round 2; before the frightening trip to Twickenham before the sole rest week. If standards don’t improve pronto, then this Six Nations could come and go with so much as a finger laid by Ireland.
Irish Player Ratings:
Jamie Osborne - 5; Tommy O’Brien - 4, Garry Ringrose - 4, Stuart McCloskey - 6, Jacob Stockdale - 4; Sam Prendergast - 4, Jamison Gibson-Park - 4; Jeremy Loughman - 6, Dan Sheehan - 4, Thomas Clarkson - 4; Joe McCarthy - 4, Tadhg Beirne - 4; Cian Prendergast - 6, Josh van der Flier - 5, Caelan Doris - 4.
R. Kelleher – 5, M. Milne - 6, F. Bealham - 5, J Ryan - 5, J. Conan - 6, N. Timoney - 7, C. Casey - N/A, J. Crowley - 6.
Coaches - 3
