Donal Lenihan: Can Ireland survive Paris? Injury-hit squad faces stern Six Nations test

Ireland face a stern Six Nations opener in Paris, with injuries testing scrums, lineouts, and backline resilience against France

Ireland return to Stade de France for the first time since that heartbreaking quarter-final exit to New Zealand at the 2023 World Cup. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

It never rains but it pours, literally, including at Ireland’s pre- Six Nations warm weather training camp at Quinta do Lago on the Portuguese Algarve. At this stage, Andy Farrell must be wondering if someone has cast a spell on his squad.

When Ireland were the number one side in the official World Rugby rankings entering the 2023 World Cup, Farrell not only took that as a badge of honour, acknowledging the fact openly, he encouraged his players to do likewise, to absorb that everyone was coming to knock them off their high perch.