Six Nations player ratings: how Ireland fared in tough French test

Andy Farrell's side started with defeat in Paris 

Ireland players at the final whistle. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

15 – Jamie Osborne 

A safe pair of hands in the absence of an established back three, the attack-minded Osborne had to knuckle down. His classy left boot boomed Ireland into a good early position but under pressure for long stretches. 4 

14 – Tommy O’Brien 

The 27 year old was under the cosh down the right side against the dazzling Louis Bielle-Biarrey with three tacklers unable to prevent first try. Flew up too fast on Jalibert try, caught in no man’s land. 4 

13 – Garry Ringrose 

The last man standing of the regular line-up but he was unable to get in amongst the opposition and make any sort of difference. 5 

12 – Stuart McCloskey 

Andy Farrell opted for trusted quality in the centre, placing his faith in the Ulster man’s solid reliability and he started to show more as the game wore on, creating the dent for Milne try. 5 

11 – Jacob Stockdale 

The wet night meant it was a time for chasing high balls and the Irish wide flanks were exposed time and again as France powered forward and met little resistance. 4 

10 – Sam Prendergast 

It was time for Prendergast to show that he was robust enough in the tackle. Caught napping on Jalibert try. Some decent individual touches, off-loads, sharp-eyed kick pass but failed to get his side down where they needed to be. Nice delayed pass for Timoney try. 5 

9 – Jamison Gibson-Park 

Could the Leinster scrum-half impose himself when set against the genius that is Antoine Dupont? Left hanging several times but kept at it, scragging Jalibert but bounced off too often round the fringes. 4 

1 – Jeremy Loughman 

There was to be no hiding place for the 30-year-old Munster loosehead following a catalogue of injuries, making his first test start since 2022. Did what he could but no real purchase. 4 

2 – Dan Sheehan 

Big night, big scrum and Sheehan was the man in the middle, helping settle nerves after the Springbok disaster. Accurate lineout throws a boon but scrum under severe strain all game. 5 

3 – Thomas Clarkson 

There were demons to confront for the entire Ireland scrum and Clarkson had to step up to the plate with Tadhg Furlong just failing to make the cut. It was not an easy night. 4 

4 – Joe McCarthy 

Ireland needed every ounce of Big Joe’s heft. It didn’t really happen. McCarthy paled in comparison to the likes of Mickael Guillard. Gave away silly penalty under the posts, then spilled a sitter. 4 

5 – Tadhg Beirne 

Beirne’s mobility showed up on the few occasions when Ireland got some territory and managed to mount an attack but it was a night to endure plenty of suffering. 5 

6 – Cian Prendergast 

The Connacht forward had a clear assignment – to get stuck in and prevent the French pack from getting the sort of momentum on which Dupont and Jalibert thrive. It never came to pass. 4 

7 – Josh van der Flier 

A busy night for the Leinster flanker, in defence especially, although the red scrum cap was visible in attack on those rare Irish break-out moments. Never flagged but it was a rearguard effort. 5 

8 – Caelan Doris (capt) 

In the midst of the storm throughout, the Ireland captain wore a bloodied face from early on as the French pounded forward. Doris was on the back foot and was unable either to change the course of Ireland’s game. 4 

Replacements - The bench didn’t shirk their duties despite the contest seemingly already over at half-time at 22-0. Andy Farrell sent a four-man cavalry into the fray in the 50th minute, James Ryan, Nick Timoney and Jack Conan charged with an impossible task. It did the trick. Jack Crowley also got his chance. The forward subs made a difference with Timoney scoring followed by Michael Milne crashing over. The game was gone but they earned a sliver of respect for their manful fightback. 6