Ireland coach dismisses decline talk but wants more top-level exposure for young players

"I'd love players to get exposed more often," said Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty. "But it's difficult when you've got four teams."

Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty cited Paddy McCarthy and Gus McCarthy as two players whose development shows Irish rugby's conveyor belt is still working. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

It has been a miserable opening weekend for Irish rugby but Ireland’s John Fogarty believes suggestions of a decline in the national side are disingenuous.

Andy Farrell’s side slumped to a 36-14 defeat to the French in Paris last Thursday, with the Irish coaching team back in Limerick the following night as England A put the second string XV to the sword, running in eight tries at Thomond Park for a 52-14 victory.