Tommy Martin: Chill, sometimes it’s fine to be rubbish for a while

It was almost possible to see Franno and Nick Popplewell trudging behind the posts while a cockerel danced a merry jig and Fred Cogley struggled to make himself heard above the Gallic din.

OUCH: Ireland’s Caelan Doris is tackled by France flanker Oscar Jegou during Thursday’s Six Nations clash at the Stade de France. A humbling defeat brought back memories of the shellackings French sides doled out to Irish teams of the 1990s. Pic: Julie Sebadelha / Getty

THE 1990s are back baby! Robbie Williams has an album called Britpop, the Republic of Ireland are planning a World Cup adventure to the USA and the Irish rugby team are getting used to an annual spanking by the French.

Most reports of Thursday’s defeat in Paris have referenced memories of the greatest decade of them all, when every second spring brought ritual humiliation at the Parc Des Princes.