Ireland’s much-praised head coach Andy Farrell has never been in such a dire and exposed position as this, with a pile of problems to solve after his side were pummelled 36-14 by France in the Six Nations’ opener in Paris.
In six years of Farrell in charge of Ireland, their game plan of fast offloading and constant support has been a reliable and effective approach, when it is working smoothly.
But this season the Irish have lost the magic touch, and with a bunch of top players missing injured in the French capital, they were comprehensively beaten by a margin of five tries to two.
Get Prendergast front-foot ball
Ireland’s captain Caelan Doris slammed his team’s lack of a strong defence, while his retired predecessor as skipper, Rory Best, told ITV he was more worried about the attack.
A thrilled France defence coach Shaun Edwards could not believe his side dominated territory and possession in a first half they finished leading 22-0. “That’s normally what Ireland do to us!” Edwards said.
It left Ireland’s fly-half Sam Prendergast stuck mostly on the back foot, making bad defensive decisions and only sporadically contributing anything to the attack.
Find some gas
A late breakout by Garry Ringrose showed a brief burst of spirit, but it also emphasised the chronic lack of gas as Ireland’s outside backs failed to get near their galloping centre.
Ireland have no one remotely resembling the pacy Louis Bielle-Biarrey – who now has 22 tries in 23 Tests – and Theo Attissogbe, who got over in the final minute.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey is BOX OFFICE @SixNationsRugby | @FranceRugby pic.twitter.com/FUJ71emSIU
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) February 5, 2026And this was not an isolated result, as Farrell’s men have already lost at home to New Zealand and South Africa this season, making it three defeats in a row against top-rated opposition.
This was also Ireland’s biggest Six Nations beating since their English boss took over from Joe Schmidt in 2020.
Farrell and a sizeable Irish cohort of players and coaches enjoyed their 2-1 Lions series victory in Australia last summer but right now they are enduring a different and debilitating story.
Show more fight
“Showing a bit of fight and character was what was needed,” Farrell said post-match at Stade de France, knowing he hadn’t seen that until it was too late in the second half with substitutes Nick Timoney and Jack Conan giving a bit of oomph.
A severe charge for the normally reserved Farrell to make against his starting team – but he clearly felt public retribution was called for.
Prendergast slipped a nice delayed pass for a try by Timoney, and later made a superb line kick with a penalty, to show he has bottle.
THAT ASSIST France have the bonus point 1⃣@SixNationsRugby | @FranceRugby pic.twitter.com/JIr8uvTmgz
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) February 5, 2026But his volleyed clearance that missed touch and led to Bielle-Biarrey’s opening try was an error not permissible at this level, the kind that will almost always be punished.
The Irish scrum lacking four injured props did better than some forecasts predicted but they were wheeled as the French pleased in the set-up of fly-half Matthieu Jalibert’s try on the short side after 21 minutes.
Poor Prendergast could only fly across and flail his arms in a hopeless attempt to stop the inevitable.
‘Collisions, connections and kick-chase’
Of course, any team missing the class of Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird, Hugo Keenan, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Mack Hansen and the suspended Bundee Aki might struggle.
Ireland’s starting props offered no hint of Furlong-like handling in open field – very few in the world can do that – while the back three of Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale had no X-factor with which to worry the French.
And all the vastly experienced James Ryan offered from the bench was a questionable hit on Jalibert.
But “collisions and connections and kick-chase” were the other shortcomings mentioned by a shattered Doris, fundamentals that even a second-string side should pride themselves on.
Another ex-Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll reckoned other teams would be lining up to take the Irish scalp now – it will be Italy’s turn to have a go next, in Dublin next week.
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