The Six Nations kicked off on a rainy night in Paris and Ireland were hoping to move past the autumn disappointment that ended in a comprehensive defeat to South Africa. It also marked the Six Nation return for Ireland’s head coach, Andy Farrell, after he was away from the national set up last year to be the Lions Head Coach. For the first time since 1948, the Six Nations would kick off on a Thursday. Coincidentally, 1948 was also the year of Ireland’s first Grand Slam. Unfortunately, this uplifting fact did not manifest in the match itself. Renowned as the best player in the word, Frances Antoine Dupont made a return after almost a year out from the French team, when he was riddled with injuries. Ireland named the strongest available fifteen athletes, including former Trinity students Joe McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson and Dan Sheehan.
Ireland started the game well, pushing inside France’s twenty-two meter line within the first six minutes. However, the men in blue struck first blood in the 13th minute, with France’s winger Bielle-Biarrey. After 15 minutes the score was 7-0 to the home side, with Ramos putting the conversion kick between the posts. Ireland’s woes continued right after the restart, with France turning the ball over within the minute. These physical struggles were a staple throughout the full 80 minutes, with Ireland only retaining two out of 13 aerial kicks. Misplaced kicks and poor chasing meant Ireland lost the battle in the air at the Stade de France. This physical dominance from the French continued into the second quarter, with Jalibert grounding the try for the blues in the 22nd minute. With the conversion drifting wide, the score remained at 12-0. However, Ramos quickly righted his miss by converting a penalty for France in the 28th minute, a penalty given away by Trinity alumni Joe McCarthy. The rain continued to pour for Ireland, with France wrapping up the first half with another try, scored by their second row Ollivon. At the half time whistle, Ireland ran into the tunnel for shelter from both the rain and the French, with the score 22-0.
It was Ireland’s biggest half-time deficit since 2006, a year most Trinity students can barely remember. To say Ireland faced an uphill battle is an understatement. And within two minutes of the second half, France drop-kicked Ireland back down the rest of said hill with another try. This was the second try of the match for Bielle-Biarrey, with Ramos again converting it smoothly. In the 50th minute, both teams made substitutions, Ireland sought damage control and France began resting players for the next round. The French fans also seemed to believe the match was wrapped up. However, with the French fans conducting a Mexican wave in the background, Ireland finally succeeded in putting a score up, with Ireland’s Timoney grounding the try in the 59th minute. Three minutes later, Ireland doubled their total with another try from Ireland substitute Milne. With Prendergast converting both tries, Ireland managed to preserve some of their dignity with the score now being 29-14. Unfortunately, that seemed to be the end of Ireland’s scoring run, with France rubbing salt in the wound by scoring the final try of the match in the final play of the game. With the final score being 36-14 to France, Ireland returned to Dublin licking their wounds.
Fast forward nine days, and the men in green were back on home soil. Their opponents were the Italians who were just off the back of a monumental win against Scotland the week before. Despite having beaten Ireland in Dublin in the Six Nations, Italy arrived confident of taking points from the Aviva. After the catastrophe that was the French match, Andy Farrell made numerous changes to the starting 15 and match day squad. Rob Baloucoune and Cormac Izuchukwu were to make their Six Nations debut, with Craig Casey also being promoted to the starting team. A piece of history was also occurring in Dublin, with Hollie Davidson becoming the first female to referee a men’s Six Nations match. The weather around the Aviva was cold and miraculously dry, putting fans in green in slightly better moods before the kick off.
The game began and Ireland immediately improved on their kicking retention, gaining two in the first few minutes. Despite this, Ireland failed to make a mark on the game in the opening minutes with a couple mistakes cropping up. Luck appeared to be on the men in green’s sides, as in the 11th minute Italy’s Lynagh received a yellow card and sin bin for a deliberate knock on. The extra player for 10 minutes proved fruitful for Ireland, with Jamie Osbourne in the 19th minute grounding the try. However, the score remained at 5-0, with Prendergast failing to convert the conversion. Despite the lead, Ireland’s mistakes continued, with Izuchukwu giving away a penalty that Paolo Garbisi put between the posts. Ireland then decided to say “anything you can do I can also do” to Italy, with Casey getting sin binned in the 31st minute for a dangerous tackle. Italy wasted no time taking advantage of this, scoring a try two minutes later. Conversion scored, and Italy took the lead in Dublin with the score at 5-10. The final 10 minutes to the half-time whistle seemed like an eternity to both Ireland fans and players alike. With tempers firing and Italy crushing Ireland in the scrum time and time again, Ireland was lucky to go into the break only five points down.
Once again, Ireland trailed at half-time, leading only in an alarming 19 missed tackles. Despite this, Farrell only made one change to the Ireland team, with Tadgh Furlong replacing Trinity former student Thomas Clarkson in the front row. Another change Ireland made is in their attitude, with the men in green coming out fighting. This resulted in a try for Ireland just four minutes after the restart, scored by Jack Conan. Once again, Prendergast missed the conversion kick, adding fire to the infamous debate over who should wear the number 10 jersey for Ireland. Ireland’s penchant for missing tackles continued, with Italy scoring a try as a result. Once again luck was on Ireland’s side, with it being turned over due to a forward pass. Substitutions were made but both sides remained at a stalemate until the 58th minute when Ireland’s Baloucoune got over the try line to push Ireland ahead. Jack Crowley, who replaced Prendergast, rubbed salt in the wound for both Italy and Ireland’s number 10 by scoring the conversion kick. Crowley kicked on in both senses by scoring a penalty for Ireland in the 62nd minute, making the score 20-10 to Ireland. Italy added three points to this four minutes later with a penalty kick of their own. The final ten minutes were tense, with Italy camped out inside Ireland’s 22. A late turnover gave Ireland one final chance, but Crowley’s kick for the corner drifted dead: a fitting summary of their opening two rounds. Ireland ran out 20-13 winners, but Crowley’s final mistake will define a shaky opening to the 2026 Six Nations.
