Ireland Player Ratings vs. France - Guinness Six Nations Collapse In Paris

Ireland player ratings vs. France from Paris, as Farrell’s side suffers a bruising 36-14 loss in the Guinness Six Nations with big calls across the squad.

Feb 5, 2026 by Philip Bendon

Ireland Player Ratings vs. France - Guinness Six Nations Collapse In Paris

Andy Farrell’s Ireland suffered a heavy 36-14 defeat in Paris, as their 2026 Six Nations campaign got off to a sobering start.

Trailing 22-0 at halftime, Ireland was staring down the very real prospect of a record defeat. Unable to generate any parity at the gainline, the team's attack looked disjointed, lateral and short on ideas, rarely threatening the French defensive line.

Compounding their own issues, the Irish also found themselves on the wrong side of several contentious officiating decisions.

There was reasonable scope to feel aggrieved in the buildup to both of France’s opening tries.

Louis Bielle Biarrey’s score appeared to come from a clear forward pass, while Mathieu Jalibert’s effort followed what looked very much like a knock on from Antoine Dupont at the base of the scrum.

There were no such arguments about Les Bleus’ third try. Charles Ollivon finished off a stunning counterattack to move France to within one score of a bonus point and underline his team's dominance.

Farrell rang the changes early in the second half and was rewarded with an uptick in tempo and intent. Jack Crowley, Michael Milne, Jack Conan and Nick Timoney, in particular, injected some much needed gainline punch and energy.

Both of Ireland’s tries came from the replacements.

Timoney read his Ulster teammate Stuart McCloskey perfectly to take the offload and race clear, before Milne powered over from close range, a finish entirely in keeping with his provincial form for Munster.

Any hopes of a comeback were short-lived.

Continued inaccuracy, further head-scratching officiating calls and French ruthlessness saw the hosts finish strongly, with Theo Attisogbe racing away in the 80th minute.

Here is how the Irish players fared in Paris:

1. Jeremy Loughman – 7

Locked out a vital early scrum on his own 5m line and set the tone for Ireland’s strongest set-piece area on the night.

He carried that authority throughout the first half, denying France the chance to build easy momentum through scrum dominance.

Winning a crucial scrum penalty in the 44th minute to relieve pressure was a standout moment.

Around the park, the Munster loosehead worked tirelessly, finishing with 14 tackles, two of them dominant. His breakdown contribution also was strong in a game where Ireland otherwise was second-best.

2. Dan Sheehan – 5

Hit his marks consistently at line-out time and showed his usual physicality when carrying in tight.

That said, it was a subdued performance from one of Ireland’s key attacking weapons.

With Ireland unable to generate front-foot ball, Sheehan struggled to impose himself in open play.

Finishing with five carries and four tackles underlined how little influence he was able to have. It was a night where circumstances limited his impact, rather than a lack of effort.

3. Thomas Clarkson – 5

Went toe-to-toe with Gros in a difficult contest, particularly as the French pack repeatedly got the jump at engagement.

Clarkson battled manfully and did not take a backward step under sustained pressure.

While Ireland’s scrum came under strain at times, he was not a glaring weak point. His work rate around the field was solid, if unspectacular. Overall, a steady, rather than standout, outing in testing conditions.

4. Joe McCarthy – 4

Penalized for a side entry in the 26th minute, despite the ball appearing to be out, a moment that encapsulated Ireland’s frustration on the night.

The Leinster lock looked keen to spark his side into action but too often found himself on the wrong side of decisions.

He struggled to make a meaningful impact in collision or carry.

Replaced in the 49th minute, his evening ended without the influence Ireland desperately needed. It was a frustrating night for a player built for contests like this.

5. Tadhg Beirne – 7.5

Once again Ireland’s standout forward in adversity.

Beirne produced three crucial turnovers at moments when France was building pressure and momentum.

His defensive output was immense, completing 16 tackles and claiming six line-out takes.

As the game wore on, he became more involved in attack and looked to drag Ireland forward. By that stage, however, the result already was slipping beyond reach. A performance that underlined his value even in defeat.

6. Cian Prendergast – 6

Brought much needed early stability to the Irish line-out with his ability to win clean ball.

That set-piece contribution helped Ireland stay in touch during a brutal opening spell.

Around the field, however, he struggled to impose himself against a ferocious French pack.

His defensive work rate could not be faulted, finishing with 14 tackles and a turnover. While solid, this was not a performance that shifted momentum in Ireland’s favor.

7. Josh van der Flier – 4

Unable to stamp his authority on proceedings, Van der Flier endured a rare quiet night. He was repeatedly stopped at the gainline and denied the space he thrives on.

Making just three carries told the story of how little opportunity he had to influence the contest.

Defensively, he completed 11 tackles, but without the trademark impact or breakdown menace.

Ultimately replaced in the 49th minute, it was a night to forget for the former World Player of the Year.

8. Caelan Doris (captain) – 7.5

Led from the front, despite Ireland consistently losing the collision battle around him.

Doris carried relentlessly, finishing with 13 runs and never shying away from the hard yards.

His defensive contribution was equally impressive, making 16 tackles and winning a turnover.

As captain, he set the standard for effort and intent, even as the game slipped away. One of the few Irish players who emerged with credit from a difficult evening.

9. Jamison Gibson Park – 6.5

Produced an excellent defensive read on a Jalibert loop in the 18th minute to shut down a promising French attack.

His box kicking was generally accurate and contestable, giving his chasers chances to compete. However, those kicks rarely succeeded in relieving pressure for any sustained period.

With Ireland on the back foot, Gibson Park struggled to dictate tempo. A competent performance, but ultimately limited on influence.

10. Sam Prendergast – 4

In a match billed as a defining opportunity, this was a brutal night for the young fly-half.

Aside from a clever crosskick to Tommy O’Brien and an outstanding touch finder in the second half, positives were scarce.

His lateral running, loose passing and lack of threat at the line blunted Ireland’s attack.

Defensively, he was heavily involved in the opening two French tries and missed seven tackles. While he did make 20 tackles overall, the damage had already been done.

11. Jacob Stockdale – 5

Led Ireland for defenders beaten with three, but it still was a frustrating evening for the Ulster winger.

Like the rest of the back line, he was starved of quality ball due to Ireland’s inability to win the gainline. When opportunities did arise, they were fleeting and difficult to capitalize on.

In the air, he competed well and reclaimed a few balls. However, it was not an area of clear superiority.

12. Stuart McCloskey – 7

Largely denied involvement for the opening hour as Ireland struggled to generate front foot possession.

When he did get into the contest, he made it count.

His offload for Timoney’s try was perfectly timed and executed.

Finishing as Ireland’s top carrier with 14, he also beat two defenders and completed two offloads.

Defensively, he held firm with 11 tackles and several key interventions.

13. Garry Ringrose – 4

A late break provided a brief spark in an otherwise subdued performance.

Ringrose struggled to impose himself both in attack and defense, as France dominated the midfield exchanges.

With just three carries, he was unable to influence the game going forward.

Defensively, six tackles were offset by four misses, a costly return at this level. A disappointing night for a player of his caliber.

14. Tommy O’Brien – 3

Chased relentlessly and showed commitment off the ball, but defensive lapses proved costly. His slipped tackle on Jalibert in the first half directly contributed to France’s momentum.

Too often, he was exposed defensively in high-traffic areas.

Removed early in the second half, his outing was over before he could redeem himself. A tough night in a hostile environment.

15. Jamie Osborne – 6

Opened his account with a superbly executed 50:22 that briefly swung territory in Ireland’s favor. Beyond that moment, it was a challenging evening for the fullback.

France’s kicking game repeatedly dragged him from touchline to touchline.

A lack of recent game time and top-end pace showed, as he was caught out of position on several occasions. A mixed performance with flashes of quality.

Replacements

16. Rónan Kelleher – 5

Once again endured a shaky outing at line-out time, an ongoing concern at international level.

That said, he did make a noticeable impact with ball in hand, carrying aggressively in tight exchanges.

Working in conjunction with his props, Ireland finished with a 100% scrum success rate, a significant improvement on a problem area coming into the match.

17. Michael Milne – 7

Immediate impact, with the Munster loosehead scoring with his first touch of the ball.

At scrum time, he maintained the solidity that Loughman had established earlier in the contest.

A knock-on in contact was the lone blemish, but his power and intent were impossible to ignore. Ireland looked like a different side with him on the field.

18. Finlay Bealham – 5

Rock-solid at scrum time and did his job without fuss.

Like his fellow replacements, he was eager to get involved, carrying four times as Ireland chased momentum. However, his overall influence was limited as France reasserted control late.

19. James Ryan – 4

Another lapse in discipline threatened to overshadow his contribution, with a late shot on Mathieu Jalibert risking far more serious consequences.

While his desire to influence proceedings is unquestioned, control remains a concern for a player of his experience.

Aside from that moment, he did bring physicality with four carries and five tackles. The balance between aggression and discipline continues to elude him.

20. Jack Conan – 6

Dovetailed well with Doris and Timoney, adding some much-needed punch in the carry.

He produced a handful of powerful rumbles into the French defense as Ireland briefly threatened a comeback.

21. Nick Timoney – 7

Injected exactly the energy Ireland was crying out for.

He read Stuart McCloskey’s movement perfectly to take the offload and finish clinically for his try.

Around the park, his tempo and intent stood out in a flat Irish performance.

22. Craig Casey – 5

Played just eight minutes and had little opportunity to influence the contest.

Not on long enough to really impact proceedings, but he did have a few snipes and cleared the ball away from the breakdown effectively.

23. Jack Crowley – 7

Made an immediate impact, despite being deployed out of position at fullback.

His distribution and running threat brought greater fluidity to Ireland’s attack and lifted those around him, particularly Sam Prendergast.

Aside from a missed tackle on Attisogbe, he defended solidly and kept the fly-half debate very much alive heading into Italy.

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