There are questions about whether the women's game in Ireland is moving fast enough. Governance, competition structures and funding models all need work.
Leinster's climbers are starting to find their legs again after taking a different route map to the European glory that has eluded them for too long. Leo Cullen's men should have too much for Edinburgh, but can they at last conquer their Everest again?
France’s record-breaking metrics set a new benchmark. Ireland’s own data told its own story - kicking and scrummaging woes, physical dominance, attacking shortfalls, and fine margins.
Maybe Darcy Graham is right to be bullish. Maybe Finn Russell plays the game of his life in the one city that’s never let him do his brilliant thing. Maybe. But the data, the history, and the venue all point the same way.
Twickenham's glow lasted two weeks. Jack Crowley held all the cards against Wales — and struggled to play the right card.
Twickenham answered lots of questions about this team, and the reaction of the coaching staff showed it. It was Ireland's recalibration. Now comes the test of whether they can sustain it.
From ‘intent’ to ‘keyboard warriors’ in nine days: what attribution theory tells us about recent messaging by Andy Farrell. Meanwhile, unsparing data on the performance of his Irish players presents a different picture.
Remember when Ireland were the side that thrived in chaos? When the pace lifted, we got sharper. Now, when it speeds up, we’re the ones making the mistakes.
The stats say Ireland competed. The scoreboard — and the eye test — said otherwise. France’s 36-14 dismantling in Paris exposed an Irish side struggling for identity, cohesion, and conviction.
Ireland's reliance on Andrew Porter at loosehead prop is made painfully clear by appearance stats. The system has struggled to produce viable replacements and Andy Farrell is now paying the price.
© 2026 Currency Media Limited
