Farrell keeps the faith in Irish still being at rugby's top table

Pirate IRWIN Fri, 6 February 2026 at 1:06 pm UTC·3 min read Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said despite the 36-14 hammering by France in their Six Nations opener he believes he has the players "to make sure that we are constantly up there at the top of world rugby". Farrell struck an upbeat tone despite a second successive heavy defeat by the French -- they lost 42-29 in Dublin last year -- illustrating the yawning gap that has grown between the two teams that have dominated the championship in the past four editions.Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The manner of Thursday's defeat will only add to the impression the Irish are a team in decline and a shadow of the side...