With Farrell rolling the cube in his choice – dropping James Lowe in addition to giving Cian Prendergast a uncommon begin – there have been attention-grabbing subplots aplenty as the sport neared.
Such was the character of the Paris efficiency, nevertheless, that few such themes might be given truthful scrutiny.
Eire had picked a staff to compete within the air however not often challenged in that regard with the new-look again three of Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale largely on the periphery.
Whereas the lack of each normal beginning props to harm, in addition to two back-ups on the loose-head aspect, was undesirable, it gave the chance for others to step up and present what they’ll do, but the set-piece was rendered a digital non-factor.
Certainly, Eire gained a scrum penalty within the forty fifth minute however, such was the shortage of stress elsewhere, it was the primary time Les Bleus had drawn a whistle from Karl Dickson.
Self-discipline had been a key space to enhance after the autumn however, whereas Eire did concede solely six penalties, they regularly didn’t get shut sufficient to infringe both, with 38 missed tackles on the night time.
Eire’s failure to become familiar with the non-negotiables – what Farrell referred to as the “essential a part of the sport” – left little level in sifting by a lot else.
“I believe you make your personal luck on this sport,” mentioned Farrell.
“With out the ball, I believed we misplaced that battle within the first half. The issues just like the excessive ball and successful the scraps on the ground, working by tackles or lacking tackles and so forth – that is the primary a part of the sport.
“We actually got here off second finest in that regard within the first half. Our response was gallant, however that is not what we need to be, we do not need to be a responding staff. We would have liked to indicate it from the get go.”
