Ireland's Six Nations title charge lasted all of 14 minutes, with Peter O'Mahony's red card opening the door for Wales in Cardiff last weekend.
Andy Farrell’s side didn’t play too badly with 14 men at the Millennium Stadium, but lacked the execution at the death to earn an improbable victory.
Now the rest of the tournament looks like a real slog. France travel to Dublin this weekend before Ireland’s trip to play Italy in Rome – a fixture which could easily be a battle between fifth and sixth.
Les Bleus exuded ruthless professionalism as they dispatched the Azzurri in their opening fixture, with Antoine Dupont dazzling at the Stadio Olimpico.
Add in Scotland’s historic win over England – their first at Twickenham since 1983 – and Ireland’s hopes of a successful campaign look slimmer than ever.
A response is needed – here is everything you need to know before France arrive at the Aviva Stadium.
What is it?
Round two of the 2021 Six Nations Championship, including Ireland’s clash with France in Dublin.
When is it?
The second round gets underway on Saturday February 13th – it’s another Sunday session for Ireland supporters with Andy Farrell’s side playing a day later.
Round one
Saturday February 6th - Italy 10 France 50, Rome
Saturday February 6th - England 6 Scotland 11, London
Sunday February 7th - Wales 21 Ireland 16, Cardiff
Round two
Saturday February 13th - England v Italy, London (2.15pm)
Saturday February 13th - Scotland v Wales, Edinburgh (4.45pm)
Sunday February 14th - Ireland v France, Dublin (3pm)
Round three
Saturday February 27th - Italy v Ireland, Rome (2.15pm)
Saturday February 27th - Wales v England, Cardiff (4.45pm)
Sunday February 28th - France v Scotland, Paris (3pm)
Round four
Saturday March 13th - Italy v Wales, Rome (2.15pm)
Saturday March 13th - England v France, London (4.45pm)
Sunday March 14th - Scotland v Ireland, Edinburgh (3pm)
Round five
Saturday March 20th - Scotland v Italy, Edinburgh (2.15pm)
Saturday March 20th - Ireland v England, Dublin (4.45pm)
Saturday March 20th - France v Wales, Paris (8pm)
How can I watch it?
Ireland’s clash with Les Bleus will be broadcast free-to-air on Virgin Media One (coverage starts at 2pm) and on ITV in the UK (2.15pm). You can also follow the action via the Irish Times liveblog from around 2.15pm.
Saturday’s fixtures will also be on Virgin Media One, with ITV showing England against Italy and the BBC covering Scotland and Wales. Again, you can keep up to date with those games via our liveblogs.
How is the table looking?
What happened last weekend?
The 2021 Championship opened with a nonchalant French evisceration of Italy, Les Bleus running out 50-10 winners against their sorry hosts, whose long winless run in the Six Nations looks unlikely to end this year.
France’s title hopes were boosted further by Scotland’s 11-6 victory over a lacklustre England at Twickenham, with Gregor Townsend’s side emphasising their progression with a win which was 38-years in the making.
A day later Ireland were beaten 21-16 by Wales in Cardiff, a defeat which largely stemmed from O’Mahony’s early red card. Robbie Henshaw and Tadhg Beirne were among those who shone in adversity but any hopes of landing an improbable victory were butchered at the death by Billy Burns, as the outhalf missed touch with a penalty in the last play.
Team news
Ireland will be without O’Mahony, with the Munster backrow now banned for three games. There is also no Johnny Sexton or James Ryan – Ireland’s two leaders both left the pitch in Cardiff with head injuries. Billy Burns instead starts at outhalf, with Iain Henderson slotting into the secondrow.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Billy Burns, Jamison Gibson-Park; Cian Healy, Rob Herring, Andrew Porter; Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson (capt); Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander. Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Ed Byrne, Tadhg Furlong, Ultan Dillane, Will Connors, Craig Casey, Ross Byrne, Jordan Larmour.
France meanwhile make two changes - Anthony Jelonch comes in for Dylan Cretin in the back ow and Damian Penaud starts instead of Teddy Thomas on the wing.
France: Brice Dulin; Damian Penaud, Arthur Vincent, Gael Fickou, Gabin Villiere; Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont; Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Mohamed Haouas; Bernard Le Roux, Paul Willemse; Anthony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon (captain), Gregory Alldritt. Replacements: Pierre Bourgarit, Hassane Kolingar, Uini Atonio, Romain Taofifenua, Dylan Cretin, Baptiste Serin, Anthony Boutier, Teddy Thomas
Head to head
After being largely bullied by France since the start of the 1930s, recent history between the two sides has seen Ireland gain an upper-hand. Ireland have won six and drawn two of their last 10 meetings with Les Bleus – including a World Cup victory in 2015. However, their most recent meeting came on October 31st last year and ended in a resounding 35-27 win for the French. It will take a lot for Ireland to reverse that form this weekend.
An issue of management
Gordon D'Arcy has been fairly cutting with his assessment of where Ireland find themselves, and suggests malaise was present before O'Mahony was sent off against Wales. And who's at fault? He believes the blame should be directed further up the tree. . .
“The situation Ireland find themselves in is down to management. From the top down, David Nucifora to Farrell, the professional structures were supposed to ensure that this mess did not occur.
“Nucifora put the coaching ticket together. Farrell, presumably, picks the team. We know from Nucifora’s fascinating press conference late last year that he is not focusing on the 2023 World Cup, nor is he losing a wink of sleep about the amateur game, so the priority is 2021.
“How is that going?
“The performance director has had seven years to avoid what we are currently witnessing. Ireland’s collapse in 2019 was shocking for everyone and stumbling from one disaster to another in 2020 came with plenty of legitimate excuses, but what now? When will Ireland’s lack of a long-term strategy be explained? How long does the Australian plan to stay in his position of power?
“This is a bigger problem than the public realise.”
What are the bookies saying?
France are now firm favourites to end their drought and lift the title in March.
Championship
France 6-5
England 4-1
Scotland 4-1
Wales 6-1
Ireland 8-1
Italy 1000-1
Grand Slam
France 3-1
Scotland 12-1
Wales 12-1
No Grand Slam 2-5
Match betting
England 1-500 Italy 33-1 Draw 66-1 (England -37 Evens)
Scotland 1-2 Wales 9-5 Draw 22-1 (Scotland -5 Evens)
Ireland 8-5 France 4-7 Draw 22-1 (France -4 Evens)
Who’s on the whistle?
England v Italy - Mike Adamson
Scotland v Wales - Matthew Carley
Ireland v France - Luke Pearce
How’s the weather looking?
It has been a bitterly cold week but the temperatures are expected to lift by Sunday – we’re forecast to get loads of rain instead.
Can I go?
Sigh. Not yet.
