DisciplineBundee Aki’s verbal abuse of match officials following Connacht’s home defeat by Leinster last month has cost Ireland his services for the first three rounds of this Six Nations and reminded rugby’s law enforcers of his country’s decline in disciplinary standards. There was a meltdown at home to South Africa last time out in November, with a 20-minute red card and four yellows, not to mention 18 penalties, numbers not conducive to successful performances and Ireland cannot afford a repeat in Paris on Thursday night. Porter and McCarthy as well as third-choice loosehead Jack Boyle are all now injured and that may give Ireland an opportunity to present new pictures to match referee Karl Dickson. Playing the game not the occasionEchoes of Ireland’s 2022 visit to Stade de France abound here as Andy Farrell sends a team featuring seven players in his matchday 23 who will be playing in the stadium for the first time. Overcoming the pitfalls of a night out in Paris will be so important to the success of Ireland’s mission to defeat France and get their Six Nations campaign off to an unexpected winning start.

Source: Irish Examiner February 05, 2026 15:50 UTC