Ireland may have been forced to endure a more underwhelming than expected end to their 2025 Six Nations campaign, but even still, the Independent's team of the Six Nations which features just one Irish player feels particularly cutting.
Just a fortnight ago, Ireland were favourites to claim both the Six Nations and Grand Slam, having defeated England, Wales and Scotland to claim the Triple Crown. An uncharacteristic thumping at the hands of eventual winners France derailed those aspirations, however, condemning Ireland to third place in the standings.
While Ireland were expected to bounce back against Italy in Rome, it took Simon Easterby's men much more effort to grind out a win than anyone would have predicted at the outset of this tournament.
That said, Ireland won as many games as both England and France and defeated all of the home nations in a possibly underwhelming but still reasonably successful Six Nations outing.
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15 March 2025; Dan Sheehan of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Italy and Ireland at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Independent select just one Irish player in team of the tournament
Unfortunately for Ireland, in the closing pair of games, many of the stalwarts could simply not arouse the high standards they've set for themselves over the last three years.
Bundee Aki and Jamison Gibson-Park were particularly quiet, while Ireland's famed backrow failed to have the punching effect it often has on teams.
Naming their team of the tournament, The Independent included just one player; Ireland's Italian hero Dan Sheehan, who aside from his usually high performance at two, scored a hatrick of tries and became the highest scoring forward in Six Nations history.
Here's how they described the Leinster hooker: "Captained his country against Wales and scored five tries in the tournament, including a hat-trick against Italy. Appears nailed on for the Lions Test team."
While some inclusions, such as that of Antoine Dupont and Louis Bielle-Biarrey need no justification, the snub of Ireland's three centres; Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, and Robbie Henshaw seems far from reflective of the impact they had in a Triple Crown win.
Similarly, Fin Smith was selected over Finn Russell, Romain Ntamack and Sam Prendergast, despite England's dire-to-watch attack in all but two of their Six Nations encounters. The selection of Ellis Genge over Andrew Porter is possibly the tightest of calls an Irish player may feel aggrieved by, with Genge, like Porter enjoying a very good campaign ahead of this Summer's Lions tours.
Even Scotland who Ireland comprehensively beat, and finished eight points ahead of had more inclusions, with both Blair Kinghorn and Huw Jones given the nod.
Somehow, England came away with more players in the side than deserved champions France with six. France had just five, while Scotland had two, and both Wales and Ireland had just one.
Independent Six Nations team of the Tournament
15. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)
14. Tommy Freeman (England)
13. Huw Jones (Scotland)
12. Yoram Moefana (France)
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France)
10. Fin Smith (England)
9. Antoine Dupont (France)
1. Ellis Genge (England)
2. Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
3. Will Stuart (England)
4. Maro Itoje (England)
5. Thibaud Flament (France)
6. Tom Curry (England)
7. Jac Morgan (Wales)
8. Gregory Aldritt (France)
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