L’Equipe pulled no punches in its rating of Ireland’s players after France flop

Ireland's Six Nations ambitions lie in a smouldering heap after yesterday's defeat in Paris, and local media were understandably far from impressed with Joe Schmidt's side.

The defending champions had ample possession and territory in the first half but fail to create much in the way of try-scoring opportunities, allowing France to sneak a 10-9 victory. And French sports bible l'Equipe saw few positives in the Irish performance, handing out ratings for the men in green that averaged a meagre 4.7. CJ Stander, Jack McGrath, Robbie Henshaw and Johnny Sexton were the best of the bunch, each meriting a six, while poor old Nathan White was a handed just three after Ireland's second-half scrum problems gave France the platform for victory. Only Sean O'Brien and Dave Kearney escape the roasting, their premature withdrawals sparing them begin graded at all. The French did little better, mind, with the paper failing to to be fooled by victory in a game that Les Bleus really had no business winning either. Guy Noves' side averaged a 5.5 mark, with front rows Jefferson Poirot and Guilhem Guirado, the man responsible for that brutal hit on Dave Kearney, the only ones earning sevens.