Injuries on top of insult for Joe Schmidt’s walking wounded

Last week, any possibility of a Grand Slam or Triple Crown was eliminated on the first outing. This week the potential for a historic third championship on the bounce has also gone west. With England next up in Twickenham, and the casualty rate rising by the day, Ireland are struggling.

When Joe Schmidt attempted to dampen expectations at the Six Nations launch in London by suggesting that, with so many injured bodies struggling to be fit for the opening games and a demanding fixture list that sees Wales, France, and England first up, the likelihood was that Ireland were likely to finish in mid-table this time out.

Nobody took the Kiwi too seriously at the time but early indications are that Ireland are now likely to finish outside the top three for the first time since 2013. Winning in Paris can never be taken for granted, not when you have only achieved four wins in the French capital since 1952.