WE CAN GET UP OFF THE FLOOR

ANDY FARRELL admits Ireland must produce the “performances of their lives” to get back into the Six Nations title race. Johnny Sexton hopes to play against in-form France in a must-win clash on Sunday but still has to go through head injury return to play protocols.

The Ireland skipper was reluctant to go off after a head knock in the 69th minute (left). In his absence,

Billy Burns butchered a kick to the corner with the game in overtime that would have provided Ireland’s 14-men with a great chance to win.

“It was a casualty ward at one stage, people were going down with cramp, people

having all sorts of different knocks and that’s why it was such an effort from all the individuals that were involved,” Farrell said. Ireland led 13-6 at the interval despite the loss of Peter O’mahony to a red card in the 13th minute, which left his team with a mountain to climb.

Farrell (above) added: “I was saying to the lads that they’ll feel sorry for themselves for a couple of hours but to bring the best versions of themselves into work this week because there’s a lot of us in the group that have been involved in enough Six Nations to know that a Six Nations is not won on the first day.

“From here on in we have to be more clinical and give the performances of our lives to be in the battle to win the competition, it’s as simple as that.

“We’ve a very good French side coming over next week to the

Aviva and we’ll be back ourselves against anyone there.”