How Ireland deal with this will tell a lot
One of the most decorated Irish sides to represent this country travelled to Paris with serious intent and a genuine belief that they could create their own piece of history at the weekend, but ultimately fared no better than the vast majority of their predecessors.
There was a time Irish teams were beaten before they left home, but this group are hewn from sterner stuff. That is why a defeat of this magnitude is even more difficult to come to terms with. Eighteen months out from the next World Cup, these are the type of challenges that this squad must conquer.
