RTÉ Sport Journalist
Andy Farrell rejects the suggestion that losing three of his most experienced players has been a big disruption to his plans.
Ireland host France on Sunday and will do so without the services of Johnny Sexton [head injury] and Conor Murray [hamstring], who between them have 195 international caps.
In addition, James Ryan [head injury] has been ruled out. The lock has 33 caps to his name and is a guaranteed starter when fit.
The duo, who played together in the final stages of the loss to Wales, have ten caps between them. There has been a lot going on this week but we re a squad and we ve been a squad since we met up. Everyone has been swapping in and out, added Farrell
France to cruise to victory against Italy in Rome
Date published:
February 5 2021
Italy and France will get their respective Six Nations campaigns underway in what should be an entertaining encounter between two sides at opposite ends of the scale in terms of their development in the international arena.
The Azzurri start the Six Nations in a desperate mood as they are currently on a 27-match losing run in the competition – the worst streak in the tournament’s history – which stretches back to a Round Three encounter against Scotland in 2015 when Italy claimed a narrow 22-19 triumph at Murrayfield.
Adding insult to injury for head coach Franco Smith and his troops is the fact that they have also lost their last 10 Tests against France, with their most recent triumph against Les Bleus registered in 2013 (23-18) at the same venue in Rome.
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