The 2025 Six Nations Championship proved to be one to forget from an Ireland standpoint and that has been reflected in the Fans' Team of the Tournament selection.
What could have been a Six Nations three-peat, which has never been done before, petered out to be a third-place finish for an Ireland side led by interim head coach Simon Easterby.
The backing of youngster Sam Prendergast in favour of more experienced alternative Jack Crowley proved to be a contentious issue as the 22-year-old struggled to stake a claim for the starting shirt.
Meanwhile, a change in approach at Leinster - where Jacques Nienaber has changed the philosophy from what Stuart Lancaster had implemented - undoubtedly had an effect on a Leinster-dominated Ireland squad.
A tight win over England, who came second, was followed by a strong victory against Scotland but Ireland were unconvincing in their wins over perennial strugglers Italy and Wales.
Having gone into round four still dreaming of another Grand Slam and Championship, Ireland were utterly hammered by champions-elect France in Dublin.
It proved to be a far cry from 2023 and 2024, with the Ireland squad now very much under the microscope having not too long ago been the best team on the planet.
Two Ireland Players Make Six Nations Fans' Team of The Tournament
Fan opinion also illustrates where Ireland are, after France and England jumped them in the pecking order this spring.
Selections have been dominated by green shirts in recent seasons but that is no longer the case, with Ireland getting just two representatives in the Six Nations Fans Team of the Tournament.
Runners-up England - who beat France when the sides met - have five representatives, veterans Maro Itoje and Tom Curry joining prop Will Stuart in the pack with Fin Smith - the form 10 right now - and wing Tommy Freeman also being voted in.
France have four, with try machine Louis Bielle-Biarrey and star man Antoine Dupont being joined by Gregory Alldritt and Mickael Guillard.
Blair Kinghorn and Huw Jones represent Scotland, while Italy and Wales sole representatives are Tommaso Menoncello and Jac Morgan.
For Ireland meanwhile, Andrew Porter has been chosen at loosehead prop while the ever-prolific Dan Sheehan gets the nod from viewers at hooker.
The fans have votes! Here is the Team of the Championship for the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations! 🏆#GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/7b9j3RKsL7
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 20, 2025
By contrast, eight Ireland players made the elite XV when fans made their voices heard 12 months ago.
Both Porter and Sheehan featured then too, and were joined by: Tadhg Beirne; Joe McCarthy; Caelan Doris; Jamison Gibson-Park; James Lowe and Bundee Aki.
The 2023 Grand Slam winners had 10.
The lack of representation is not what Ireland would have hoped for going into the competition, with a number of seemingly nailed-on British and Irish Lions candidates having underwhelming campaigns.
They can have few complaints however.
