Donal Lenihan: Kick off approaching -  can injury-hit Ireland survive Paris? 

Ireland face a stern Six Nations opener in Paris Thursday night, with injuries testing scrums, lineouts, and backline resilience against Fabien Galthie's France. Here are the key areas

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.