Following the conclusion of the 2025 Six Nations, we update you on the state of the participating nations. Next, it’s the third-place side, Simon Easterby’s Ireland.
History beckoned for the Irishmen having claimed the title in both 2023 and 2024, with an unprecedented three-peat on the cards, but it ultimately ended in a damp squib.
By the end of a Six Nations Championship which had started so promisingly for Easterby’s side, there were more questions than answers as they dropped below England and eventual champions France in the standings.
One defeat does not put them at panic stations, with Ireland still very much one of the world’s best, but the conclusion to this tournament, which followed a mediocre Autumn Nations Series, has their fans and former players concerned.
It is conclusive proof that a week is indeed a long time in sport as Europe’s dominant side for the past two years went from potential record-breakers to one which has a lot to prove during the rest of 2025.
Six Nations summary
There was plenty of anticipation heading into the tournament for Irish fans and it began well enough with a relatively convincing victory over England, despite a slow start and poor end. The hour between the first and last 10 minutes of the game, which saw the Red Rose score their three tries, were excellent, with Ireland scoring four of their own and wrapping up a bonus-point triumph.
It was the first big hurdle out of the way with the next coming at Murrayfield against Scotland, a clash where many saw a potential pitfall for the 2023 and 2024 champions. But there is a reason why they have such a strong record versus the Scots and they utterly dominated in Edinburgh, claiming a 32-18 success and once again getting the all-important four tries.
With Wales to come, a side who following their loss to Italy in Round Two parted company with head coach Warren Gatland, Ireland were well set up for a tilt at the Grand Slam and, ultimately, a historic third title in succession. However, rather surprisingly, the Welsh challenged the visitors in Cardiff and at one stage held an 18-10 advantage. Ireland would get through the clash to set up the mouthwatering encounter with France, but it rather hinted at what was to come in the fourth round.
The fallibility they showed at the Principality Stadium was certainly not a one-off and it rather came to a head versus Les Bleus. Despite dominating the early stages of the match and also being in front at the start of the second period, ‘Le Bomb Squad’ did the job after the break as Fabien Galthie’s men ended up hammering the Ireland in a chastening afternoon for Easterby’s men.
That would cost them the chance of history even though they just about managed to do the job in Rome. A 22-17 victory over an ill-disciplined Italy was hardly convincing but it did at least keep them in the Six Nations race, until it was extinguished by the wins for England and France in the final two matches, leaving the Irishmen down in third place.
Standout players
One of the concerns that has been bandied around as the Six Nations moved towards its conclusion was the age of the squad and those worries are legitimate. Some of their best in the recent tournament are the wrong side of 30, with the likes of Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe and Bundee Aki starring over the past month-and-a-half.
The three New Zealand-born backs were all exceptional, whether starting or coming off the bench. Gibson-Park was consistently excellent at scrum-half while Lowe excelled in the opening three matches. He was very much missed after picking up an injury in the warm-up ahead of the France encounter and that issue may still have been impeding him given that he struggled in the finale versus Italy.
As for Aki, the powerhouse centre will turn 35, but he continues to produce the performances. He may not have the ability to go the full 80 anymore but, whether he is in the XV or among the replacements, the Connacht star had a significant impact every time he took to the field.
Another 30-plus standout was the outstanding Tadhg Beirne, who was excellent in all facets, but Ireland did also have some younger players stand up. That included number eight and captain Caelan Doris, despite having a quieter tournament than in 2024, and hooker Dan Sheehan. Considering he only just made the Six Nations after returning from a serious knee injury, his displays were remarkable.
Stat leaders
As mentioned Sheehan was one of the shining lights for Ireland and that was evidenced by the five tries he scored in the tournament, with the hat-trick against Italy the obvious highlight. He has now touched down 13 times overall in the Six Nations, which is four more than any forward – an incredible effort considering he is still just 26.
Meanwhile, the retiring Cian Healy eclipsed the legendary Brian O’Driscoll last year to become the most-capped Ireland player in history before taking his Six Nations record, with the prop now on 67 in comparison to the former centre’s 65. Healy also finished just two appearances behind Sergio Parisse’s overall record of 69.
Elsewhere, Ireland were low down on much of the attacking metrics, including metres gained, defenders beaten, line breaks and off-loads, showing their struggles in the competition, but James Lowe was the exception. The wing, despite missing the clash with France, was in the top 10 for metres made and joint-second for line breaks with eight – making up just under a third of Ireland’s overall tally.
Although the Irish had several issues in their game, their back-row – and particularly star duo Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris – were consistent performers. Van der Flier was fifth for tackles completed with 61, while Doris was joint-seventh for turnovers won, but it was an underwhelming tournament for a lot of their individuals.
Success story
In truth, it turned into a disappointing Six Nations campaign for Ireland and there were few crumbs of comfort for Easterby’s side, given that eyes were very much set on the three-peat. They neither achieved their target nor did the coaches manage to develop players for the future. There were hopes that Sam Prendergast would cement himself as the country’s first choice pivot but that fly-half situation turned into an absolute mess, with Jack Crowley badly treated.
If anything, the big success was the performances of the old guard, who continue to be managed well by the Irish Rugby Football Union and managed to play a key role in Ireland claiming the Triple Crown for the eighth time in the Six Nations era – three more than any other country. While they were blown away by France in that second half, at the moment at least, age does not appear to be catching up with most of their players.
Main regret
There is no doubt that most will point to that France game and the collapse they endured in the second period as the visitors went from 13-8 down at the start of the half to leading 42-13 with a couple of minutes remaining. However, it was the opening 20 minutes which rather set the tone as Ireland pounded at the French line without any success.
It was that first quarter which laid the platform for the visitors. Ireland utterly dominated those early exchanges, moving the ball well and testing the opposition’s rearguard, but they simply could not put anything on the scoreboard. If they had taken at least two of those opportunities and gone 14-0 then it may have been a very different story, such is the tight margins in elite sport.
That result did irreversible damage to their title hopes and, as such, Ireland did not recover. A week later, they struggled in Rome and Easterby would have been disappointed that he did not get a response. For a team as experienced as the Irish, the interim boss would have demanded a reaction and that is also something they will regret when looking back on the tournament. It may not have been as significant as that opening 20 against France, but that will also frustrate them.
Results
Ireland v England (Ireland won 27-22)
Ireland v Scotland (Ireland won 32-18)
Ireland v Wales (Ireland won 27-18)
Ireland v France (France won 42-27)
Ireland v Italy (Ireland won 22-17)
👀 READ MORE: State of the Nation: Familiar story for Scotland who ‘regressed’ in yet ‘another underwhelming’ Six Nations campaign
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/state-of-the-nation-disappointing-six-nations-leaves-ireland-with-lots-to-prove-as-simon-easterby-creates-an-absolute-mess
