Do we need to wait until next week to ascertain France’s true ability?

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Ireland’s Dan Sheehan scores a try against England at the Aviva during their 2025 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 1 clash. Photograph: Billy Stickland/©INPHO
Ireland’s Dan Sheehan scores a try against England at the Aviva during their 2025 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 1 clash. Photograph: Billy Stickland/©INPHO

After an impressive, comfortable victory over England, do Ireland rival France as favourites for this year’s Six Nations? As Gordon D’Arcy points out on today’s round-up episode, do we need to wait until next week to ascertain France’s true ability after their hammering of Wales on Friday night?

Still, Ireland looked both better coached and more instinctive than an England side which caused problems in the first half. How did Simon Easterby and co rise to the challenge of working without Andy Farrell to prepare this Irish side? Did we expect them to be so rampant in that second half? How important were the contributions of James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park and the returning Dan Sheehan? What does this mean for hopes of a record third title in a row?

Produced by John Casey.

Link: http://www.justgiving.com/team/grandtourcore