Ireland's Six Nations title hopes dim after loss
Ireland's hopes for a third consecutive Six Nations title dimmed after a 42-27 loss to France in Dublin. The defeat ended their Grand Slam aspirations and left them needing help from other teams to win the championship. Josh van der Flier emphasized the team's focus on reviewing their performance and improving before facing Italy next week. He acknowledged the disappointment of losing, especially for teammates celebrating milestone matches. The match marked Ireland's first home defeat in the Six Nations since 2021. It also affected the farewell appearances of retiring players Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy, and Conor Murray.