Ireland coach Andy Farrell insists his side can remain among the world’s best despite their 36-14 Six Nations opener defeat to France in Paris.
Farrell struck an upbeat tone despite a second successive heavy defeat by the French – they lost 42-29 in Dublin last year – illustrating the yawning gap that has grown between the two teams that have dominated the championship in the past four editions.
The manner of Thursday night’s defeat will only add to the impression the Irish are a team in decline and a shadow of the side that achieved the 2023 Grand Slam and came heartbreakingly close to reaching their first-ever World Cup semi-final later that year.
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Former France coach Philippe Saint-Andre is among those who believe Ireland are in decline as a rugby force, telling the Irish Times ahead of the Six Nations opener that Ireland “are not as good as two years ago”.
A mixed bag of results last year included the hammering by France in Dublin and dispiriting losses to the All Blacks and world champion Springboks in November.
The loss against the Boks was striking as the world champions simply overpowered Ireland – particularly at scrum time – leaving referee Matthew Carley red-carded James Ryan and sin-binned Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley, Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy.
Farrell, though clearly unhappy with the performance in Paris, said he was confident the Irish would be competitive with the leading rugby powers with the next World Cup in Australia in less than two years.
“I am, because I know the people that we’ve got,” he replied when asked was he confident the gap could be closed.
“I know the good people that we’ve got, the good players that are not just here but who are at home as well.
“I know that there’s a determined group to make sure that we are constantly up there at the top of world rugby to be able to compete and that will always be the case.”
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Farrell has to not only restore battered morale but also make some tough selection calls with a vastly-improved Italy due in Dublin on 14 February. Ireland won last year’s encounter 22-17 in Rome.
Farrell added that his team had to move on from Thursday’s eye-opening defeat, “otherwise, the disappointment stands for absolutely zero”.
“We have to be honest with each other and say it as it is,” said the 50-year-old Englishman. “We’re all up to work on it next week and make sure that this stands for something.”
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Two things Farrell and his fellow coaches will be working on is tackling, they missed 38, and also winning the 50-50 balls. Often seen as a strength, they won just four of the 19 contested.
– AFP
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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