D’Arcy: hard week ahead

GORDON D’ARCY admits Ireland face a week of soul-searching after being issued with a brutal reality check in Saturday’s 33-10 rout by France.

The champions saw their Grand Slam defence crumble during a depressingly familiar afternoon in Paris that exposed the gulf in class between the title rivals.

France were outstanding as they reduced Ireland, previously unbeaten in 12 matches spanning 15 months, to a demoralised rabble lacking the strength or wit to respond.