Like Ireland's defence, Declan Danaher is bedding in nicely

Ireland's Aoife Wafer celebrates after scoring a try with Neve Jones during the Six Nations game against France. Picture: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Declan Danaher makes no bones about the job still at hand. For all the plaudits that came Ireland’s way after a gutsy defensive effort in Le Mans last Saturday, they still lost the game by 21 points and coughed up five tries.

It was a marked improvement on their meeting with France in Cork last year when a side under the care of Greg McWilliams conceded nine tries and 53 points, but it was important to get the tone right after what was Scott Bemand’s first Six Nations game in charge.