Six Nations: Farrell’s Ireland must ‘stop rotting’ after Paris humbling

With Farrell rolling the dice on his choice – dropping James Lowe as well as giving Cian Prendergast a rare start – there were plenty of interesting subplots as the match approached.

Such was the nature of performance in Paris, that few of these themes can bear fair scrutiny.

Ireland have selected a team to compete in the air, but have rarely been challenged in that regard, with the new-look trio of Jimmy Osborne, Tommy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale largely on the sidelines.

While losing both of their regular starting props to injury, as well as a couple of backups on the unwanted head side, has given others the opportunity to step up and show what they can do, the set-piece has nevertheless become a default non-factor.

In fact, Ireland won a penalty kick in the 45th minute, but due to a lack of pressure elsewhere, it was the first time the French national team had blown the whistle from referee Carl Dixon.

Discipline was a key area for improvement after the fall, but although Ireland only conceded six penalties, they often did not get close enough to convert either, giving up 38 tackles on the night.

Ireland’s failure to address the non-negotiables – what Farrell called “the main part of the game” – has left little point in sifting through so much else.

“I think you make your own luck in this game,” Farrell said.

“Without the ball, I thought we lost that battle in the first half. Things like the high ball, winning chippings on the ground, running through tackles or missing tackles etc. – that’s the main part of the game.

“We definitely came out second in that regard in the first half. Our response was brave, but that’s not what we want, we don’t want to be a responsive team. We needed to show that from the start.”