Eddie’s ship has not been a steady one

In everyone’s eyes but their own they went to Paris as no-hopers, lambs to the slaughter.

Underdogs to France's red hot favourites, but they weren't going for containment or to avoid humiliation; they were going for the win.

They were well beaten in the end by 17 points, but the Irish women's rugby squad and everyone involved deserve only praise for the way they went about their business last weekend.