Donal Lenihan: Ireland need to stock up on depth charges

Ireland have a really competitive pack at present but need more depth at prop and second row, to be able to compete with the likes of South Africa, New Zealand, France and England at the knockout phase of a World Cup.

Donal Lenihan: Andy Farrell was forced to ask his two most powerful and explosive props in Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong to keep going for 17 minutes longer than the starting French props against fresh opponents in Demba Bamba and Jean-Baptiste Gros"

Fifty-two minutes into the opening Six Nations game against Wales, Andy Farrell’s attention had already shifted to France. The fact that Ireland were in total control, leading by 24-0, enabled him replace Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan, both highly influential figures to that point, without any danger of repercussions given the meek nature of the Welsh challenge.

Saturday evening’s encounter in a bristling Stade de France was always going to be a contest of an entirely different nature with all hands required on deck in order to stay alive. If anything, the confidence generated by having six British and Irish Lions available to spring off the bench offered a calm reassurance that Ireland had the resources to remain competitive right to the final whistle.