RTÉ rugby analyst Bernard Jackman argues that Ireland's shift towards a more power-focused game was at the root of their attacking woes in the 2025 Six Nations.
The back-to-back defending champions scored 17 tries across the five games, compared to France's haul of 30 and England's tally of 25.
Most notably, Simon Easterby's side manufactured just two in an anxiety-ridden victory over erstwhile whipping boys Wales in Round 3, and they were held up over the try-line on no fewer than five occasions across the championship, which, since 2021, results in a goal-line drop out for the opposition rather than a five-metre attacking scrum.
The last detail has been taken as evidence of Ireland's retreat from the inventive attacking game in evidence in 2022 and 2023 to a more power-based game.
"We have been a team who were always focused on ball movement under (Andy) Farrell," Jackman said on RTÉ's Against the Head.
"When he came in after the 2019 World Cup, there was a period there in 2020/2021 where it looked a bit clunky. But then it really started to take shape.
"We were probably the best team in the world in terms of running at space. That's why we were never held up.
"We never were all about power. But as we've lost a bit of confidence, as the quality of the pass and the timing of the support runner have deteriorated, we've then become very power-focused. And it doesn't play to our strengths.
"I don't think we can power-up. You look at the players in the game that aren't being picked for Ireland, they aren't massive power athletes.
"We've just got to decide how we want to play. That's the key. We're missing Andy Farrell. We have to admit the influence he has mentally on this team. And he coaches on both sides of the ball. He's a former defence coach, who everyone who has worked with him says is an outstanding attack coach."
'We've become very power-focused and it doesn't play to our strengths' - @bernardjackman on Ireland's attacking woes in the 2025 Six Nations #SixNations #rugby pic.twitter.com/Rqy8RyxNAs
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 17, 2025
Ireland's shift towards a more power-orientated approach has been compared to Leinster's moves in the same direction since Stuart Lancaster departed and was replaced by former South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber.
But while Leinster have the players and physical superiority to over-power teams at club level, Ireland don't have the same capacity in the national arena, especially not against France or England.
"There's a lack of alignment. But it is what it is. We've no divine right at national level to tell the provinces how to play. Or expect them to play to Ireland's strengths.
"Luckily, under Lancaster, they weren't a million miles away (from each other), there was a culture of attack.
"You have to find a solution to it. Andy Farrell's challenge is to work out what he can do with the team - the majority of whom are from Leinster - and play a different way."
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