Irish Rugby

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More from Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty, speaking to reporters on Tuesday before Saturday's Six Nations game against Italy in Dublin (14:10 GMT).

On Ireland's main focus this week:

"I think understanding what 100% looks like, understanding what our standard is. That's really important. If I walk past something in the scrum and skip over it, the players can accept that as normal. It's unbelievably important they understand what our standard is and what they're capable of and there's a bit to that.

"Then owning and understanding and trying to figure out why they didn't deliver in the first half. In every aspect, we're going through certain images that don't look great and trying to contrast that with the standard to make it easier to understand what we need to do to get better.

"That's happening across attack, defence, kicking, scrum, maul, line-out to make sure we're clear. Driving clarity across the playing group, that's where we're at."

On the Italian scrum:

"Massively [impressed]. Italy played South Africa before we did and Italy took a couple of penalties off them, they shoved South Africa off their own ball which is no easy task.

"I think South Africa were fired up coming over here because of what Italy did to them. Italy turned Australia over at scrum time and got five penalties out of Scotland. Unbelievably connected, compact scrum that is committed as a group.

"I'm a rugby fan. I loved watching that game [against Scotland]. It was tight, the conditions and you saw a team dig it out and everyone loves that.

"They play for each other massively and we can see that clearly in the scrum. We need to be clear on the threats but also double down on what worked for us in France.

"We need to do things our way. In the past, we've looked at other scrums and been distracted by what they can do. We've really started to look at ourselves and we're in an OK place."

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Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty spoke to reporters on Tuesday before Saturday's Six Nations game against Italy in Dublin (14:10 GMT).

Here are some snippets of what he said.

On the mood in camp after crushing France defeat:

"I think initially there was huge disappointment in the playing group at the performance, particularly in the first half.

"I think there's still a frustration within the group, which is fairly natural to have because they understand what they're capable of and what they served up wasn't that.

"And some of the reviews, we're turning the page really on France and into Italy, so there's a mix of frustration and some guys getting the opportunity to put on an Irish jersey at home in a Six Nations game."

On the perception that Ireland are falling away from the top nations:

"They [the squad] are very much here and now as people. I think the bigger picture stuff, maybe I'm wrong, I guess everyone's a little bit different, I haven't thought about that too much. That's just me.

"I'm sure there's other guys that will consider that massively. That hasn't been spoken about or as a coaching group, it's not been mentioned.

"What we're focused on is making sure we front up as an Irish team. I said it at half-time that we have character, that we represent where we're from properly.

"I think that's what's on our mind. There is an understanding within the group that if we do our stuff well, we're going to be a very difficult team to play against.

"So that's where we're at, I think, mentally."

On Tadhg Furlong being back fit:

"He's healthy. He's trained now. We've done live scrums today. We're doing a few more tomorrow.

"So he has completed all his bits and he was in live scrums. He did the session. It's brilliant to have a player like him back."

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Ulster back row Bryn Ward has rejoined the Ireland squad while prop Tadhg Furlong has resumed full training before Saturday's Six Nations game against Italy (14:10 GMT).

Three-time British and Irish Lions tight-head Furlong missed last week's defeat by France in Paris with a calf problem.

In a squad bulletin on Monday, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) said "a decision will be made on his availability ahead of Thursday afternoon's team announcement".

Furlong, 33, only made one appearance off the bench in last year's Six Nations because of injury.

Uncapped Ward was part of Ireland's pre-tournament training camp in Portugal before linking up with the Ireland XV panel for Friday's emphatic 52-14 loss to England A at Thomond Park.

The 21-year-old back row, the son of former Ireland flanker Andy, has impressed since breaking into the Ulster team earlier this season.

Ireland, who trained at Clongowes Wood College in Kildare on Monday, reported no fresh injury concerns after Thursday's demoralising 36-14 loss to France.

Italy, meanwhile, have recalled Toulouse wing Ange Capuozzo to their squad ahead of Saturday's trip to Dublin.

The 26-year-old, who has scored 16 tries in 31 Azzurri caps, has not played since December because of a finger injury.

However, Italy boss Gonzalo Quesada will be without Juan Ignacio Brex because of "family reasons".

The Argentine-born Toulon centre set up Louis Lynagh's try in Saturday's win over Scotland in Rome.

Quesada is also without scrum-half Martin Page-Relo, fly-half Tommaso Allan, back rowers Sebastian Negri and Ross Vintcent, hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi, prop Marco Riccioni and wing Edoardo Todaro.

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After Ireland's miserable Six Nations defeat by France in Paris, head coach Andy Farrell is facing calls to shake up his selection for Italy's visit to Dublin on Saturday.

However, speaking on the Ireland Rugby Social, former Ireland stars Conor Murray and Rob Kearney said they do not expect Farrell to make wholesale changes as he attempts to breathe new life into a deflated camp.

"I still think he goes as strong as he possibly can [for the Italy game]," said Murray, who won the Grand Slam in 2023 under Farrell.

"It's now an even bigger game than it was going to be. I don't think Andy changes too much. He won't be feeling 'the boys went well against France', let's trial a few lads. That's never really been the case. One or two areas maybe.

"You talk about Hugo [Keenan] and Mack [Hansen] and these guys that are missing, they're such key ballplayers in that system. Do you bring in new guys? Do you change Jamie [Osborne] for someone at full-back or does Jamie go again?

Kearney echoed Murray's sentiment by predicting a "pretty similar" line-up to face the Azzurri, who opened their campaign with victory over Scotland in Rome on Saturday.

"I think he goes same," he said.

"It'll be a damaging game for the feelgood factor, the psyche and the mentality of this team.

"As a coach you want to be like 'everybody just settle down, we haven't become a really bad team overnight'. Let's get back to winning ways and start putting our own footprint back on to the game."

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Ulster's James Hume is one of six senior capped Test internationals to start for Ireland XV against England 'A' at Thomond Park on Friday (19.15 GMT).

Hume, who has won three caps for Ireland, is in the starting side alongside Shane Daly, Ciaran Frawley, Gus McCarthy and Fineen Wycherley as Leinster's Max Deegan captains the team.

The 27-year-old centre is one of six Ulster players to feature in the squad with Bryn and Zac Ward both named to start along with Scott Wilson and Charlie Irvine, while Harry Sheridan is among the replacements.

Joshua Kenny joins Daly and Zac Ward in the back three while Dan Kelly will partner Hume in midfield.

Cullie Tucker has gone for an all-Leinster half-back pairing as Fintan Gunne is named at scrum-half alongside Frawley at out-half.

Billy Bohan, McCarthy and Wilson are in the front row, while Irvine and Wycherley start in the engine room.

Skipper Deegan is joined in the back row by Bryn Ward and Brian Gleeson.

Diarmuid Barron, Sam Crean, Jack Aungier, Sheridan, Paul Boyle and Sean Jansen are the forward replacements, while backs Matthew Devine and Cathal Forde are also on the bench.

Ireland XV: Daly; Kenny, Hume, Kelly, Z Ward; Frawley, Gunne; Bohan, McCarthy, Wilson, Irvine, Wycherley, Deegan (capt), B Ward, Gleeson.

Replacements: Barron, Crean, Aungier, Sheridan, Boyle, Jansen, Devine, Forde.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist in Paris

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Ireland captain Caelan Doris says improving the team's discipline during the Six Nations "starts with me" as he admitted he must set a better example for the squad.

Andy Farrell's side's discipline has been a key talking point in the build-up to Thursday night's opener against France in Paris (20:10 GMT) after a chastening loss to South Africa in November which yielded four yellow cards and a red.

As they bid to reclaim the Six Nations title from France, Doris says discipline has been "right up there" in Irish minds during their pre-tournament preparations.

"It's one of the key points we've talked about since coming into camp especially off the back of November where it wasn't good enough," said Doris.

"I would've had chats with the coaches post-November around me as captain needing to lead it better.

"I gave away too many penalties in November, so it starts with me and the more senior players."

Speaking after leading Ireland's captain's run at Stade de France, Doris added: "Across the board it's very important, especially with the way the game's going.

"There are more cards these days. They're harder on offsides, breakdown and they want to favour the attacking team, so smart decision-making there and being really clinical and disciplined is going to be very important.

Injury-hit Ireland, who lost 42-27 to France in Dublin last year, are underdogs for Thursday's game, like they were in 2024 when they travelled to Marseille and won 38-17.

But 27-year-old Doris says he is not taking too much inspiration from what happened two years ago.

"The internal view and perception is that there's still a lot of belief at the core. That's grown over the last 10 days," he said.

"We've created evidence for more confidence and belief based on how we've shown up on the field and also connections built off it and work being done off it as well.

"There's a pretty positive feeling based on how we've trained and how the lads have shown up and integrated."

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Ulster Rugby say they are "deeply saddened" by the death of former player Russell Nelson.

The South African-born flanker joined the Irish province in 2000 and made 30 senior appearances.

Alongside his career with Ulster, Nelson played for Ballymena RFC in the All-Ireland League and helped the club to the title for the first time in 2003.

Ballymena said the achievement "holds a special place" in the club's history in a tribute to Nelson.

Before joining Ulster, he played for Boland and the Bulls in his native South Africa.

In a post on social media, Ulster said that Nelson's "leadership and character" stood out.

"He will be remembered with great respect by teammates, supporters and all who had the privilege of knowing him," the province said.

"Our heartfelt condolences are with Russell's family and friends during this difficult time."

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Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park says that France captain Antoine Dupont can "do stuff that not many others are capable of" ahead of Thursday's opening Six Nations game in Paris (20:10 GMT).

Scrum-half Dupont ruptured cruciate ligaments in his knee last March during the Six Nations match against Ireland and was sidelined for eight months.

Despite not playing for Les Bleus since, the 29-year-old returned to club rugby for Toulouse in November and is set to play a key role in this Six Nations as France aim to defend their title.

"He [Dupont] is not the only one, France have some serious weapons across the whole team" Gibson-Park said.

"Quite a lot of prep goes into stopping him [Dupont]. We all know the threat he poses. We have seen a lot of stuff over the last number of years of him doing stuff that not many others are capable of.

"I have had some pretty good draws with him over the years, particularly at club level, he poses a serious threat for sure."

Ireland's preparation for the Six Nations has been hindered by setbacks with prop Jack Boyle and forward Tom Ahern both forced to withdraw through injury.

Centre Bundee Aki will miss the opening three games through suspension with Hugo Keenan's availability for the Six Nations unclear after the full-back fractured his thumb during Ireland's training camp in Portugal.

With those injury concerns, head coach Andy Farrell has named Thomas Clarkson and Jeremy Loughman as his props, while Cian Prendergast got the nod in the back row.

James Lowe has been dropped for Jacob Stockdale on the left wing, while Jamie Osborne starts in place of Keenan at full-back.

"There are no excuses now," added Gibson-Park.

"You can't afford to start slow, especially to France away and we have prepared well.

"There is no bigger challenge, is there?"

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Cardiff forward Ben Donnell will join Ulster at the end of the current season on a three-year deal.

The versatile 25-year-old, who is Irish-qualified, can also operate in the second row or back row positions.

Donnell represented England at U18 and U20 level and had spells at London Irish and Gloucester Rugby, before joining Cardiff in 2023.

He has made 26 appearances for the Welsh side and has scored four tries to date.

"I'm really pleased to be signing for Ulster Rugby. With my family roots in Belfast, it makes the move even more special for me," Donnell told the Ulster website.

"I am very excited by the opportunity to join a team that's playing some fantastic rugby and are competing at the top end of the league.

"I know how tough Ulster are to play against, so I'm hugely motivated to come in, work hard, and add real value to a squad full of young talent and quality experience. I'm looking forward to getting started and pulling on the Ulster jersey."

Ulster general manager Rory Best said that Donnell will add "depth" to Ulster's forward pack.

"He is at a good age, with valuable experience from London Irish, Gloucester and Cardiff and that will bolster our squad and help drive competition," Best added.

"Ben is a strong ball-carrier with the versatility to play in multiple positions, which is an important skillset to have in the modern game."