'I don't see them being that dominant force that they have been'

Former England scrum-half Ben Youngs has asserted that Ireland are “done” with being the “dominant force” in the Guinness Six Nations after “stumbling over the line” to finish third in this year’s Championship.

Ireland entered this year’s tournament as the reigning champions looking to win an unprecedented third straight title, and looked on course to achieve that following convincing victories over England and Scotland in the opening two rounds.

However, a performance in which they failed to pick up a bonus point against Wooden Spoon winners Wales preceded a humbling loss to eventual champions France in Dublin. With only a slim chance of winning the title on the final weekend, Ireland stuttered to a win over an injury-ravaged Italy side in Rome that received two red cards and a yellow card.

In the wake of the final weekend, England’s most-capped player ever said on his podcast For the Love of Rugby that he believes France and England are at a “different stage” to Ireland now, who saw three centurions, Cian Healy, Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony, retire from international duty at the end of the Championship.

Six Nations

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

France

5

4

1

0

21

2

England

5

4

1

0

20

3

Ireland

5

4

1

0

19

4

Scotland

5

2

3

0

11

5

Italy

5

1

4

0

5

6

Wales

5

0

5

0

3

Youngs’ co-host Dan Cole’s assessment was not as extreme, however, but he did question whether they have “left it a tournament too late” to phase out their veterans and bring through their next generation. He also queried whether they have the power to compete with the likes of France and South Africa, something that has been widely questioned since the round four defeat.

“Ireland looked disjointed,” Youngs said. “They usually do this layered attack and it looks so well-oiled.

“Runners were getting in the way of each other, being done for crossing and all sorts.

“Ireland look like they’ve been highly affected from last week’s result. I know they made changes, but to think that after three rounds it was looking very much in their hands to win the title to really stumbling over the line to finish the tournament.

“There’s going to be some transition for Ireland, there really is. You start looking at France, you look at England, you look at Ireland and they’re in a different stage right now. I almost feel that for so long they’ve been such a dominant force within this tournament but I feel like – I really do, and I’m happy to say it – that is now done. I don’t see them being that dominant force that they have been for such a long time in this tournament.

“I feel that France and the more that England mature, will be the two teams to lash it out for the title moving forward.”