As damning statements go, Andy Farrell’s withering assessment that his Ireland team “lacked intent” in Thursday night’s sobering Six Nations defeat in Paris was right up there. At the heart of everything that Farrell stands for as a head coach, and indeed the bare minimum that he demands of his players, is that they pitch up at the required Test-match level, especially in an away venue as difficult as Stade de France.

Source: Irish Independent February 07, 2026 17:32 UTC