Ireland player ratings: Efforts of Ryan and Stander the highlight on a bad night

Ireland showed they had a game that could generate opportunity and position against this French side

Ireland's CJ Stander during the 6 Nations match at the Stade de France, Paris. Picture: PA Wire via MaxPPP. 

When Pascal Gauzere informed Owen Farrell that the penalty England thought they had won in the dying embers of their game against Italy had been reversed, Owen’s father Andy might have cracked a smile.

A few seconds later, after the young Venetian Paolo Garbisi tapped and kicked the ball into the empty stands of the Stadio Olimpico, you’d have forgiven Andy Farrell for breaking out into a grin.