Lock Toner admits defeat in Paris could signal end to Ireland title bid

DEVIN TONER has accepted Ireland may well have let an unprecedented third consecutive RBS 6 Nations title slip with the 10-9 defeat to France in Paris.

Ireland have conceded control of the championship after Saturday’s defeat, following on from their opening 16-16 draw with Wales in Dublin.

Lock Toner admitted Ireland’s tournament fate now lies out of their hands, while flanker Tommy O’Donnell revealed coach Joe Schmidt told his players they are now relying on favours from their main rivals.

Maxime Medard’s late try leaves Schmidt’s men unlikely to retain the crown.

“It is out of our hands now,” said Leinster second row Toner. “But there is always a chance. Look at last year — it came down to the three final games. But the next one is going to be huge, at Twickenham where we have not won for a while. So that is going to be massive.

“The big frustration is that it is not in our control any more.”

Ireland will take on England at Twickenham on February 27 in their thirdround clash but will spend the coming fallow week counting another lengthy injury catalogue.

Mike McCarthy suffered concussion, Johnny Sexton was “knocked around” in boss Schmidt’s words, Sean O’Brien damaged a hamstring and Dave Kearney will most likely miss the rest of the tournament with a shoulder blow.

Ireland’s creaking scrum effectively cost them victory, with France replacements Rabah Slimani and Eddy Ben Arous turning the screw at the set-piece after joining the fray in the second half.

Medard scored after France took four reset five-metre scrums as Ireland could do little other than concede penalties under intense pressure.

Munster flanker O’Donnell revealed Schmidt told his players in the Stade de France dressing rooms that Ireland’s chances of silverware are now seriously hampered.

“Joe made it evident that we are depending on results,” said O’Donnell.

“But like I said, in this championship you never know how the cards are going to fall. We will just have to refocus on England, recover, get back into camp and take it from there.

“We will see how things go. Going on the two previous championships it goes down to the final three games. We will definitely have to give it our all in the next three games and see how it goes.”

Toner allayed fears on the well-being of his Leinster locking partner McCarthy, who was removed from the field via a stretcher and wearing a neck brace. Despite a hefty concussion, McCarthy was on his feet without impediment after the match, said Toner.

“Mike was up and walking about in the changing room, feeling quite well,” said Toner. “I do not think he remembers the incident so there was maybe a little bit of a concussion.

“He did the head injury assessment and I think he did quite well in it. But what happens next is up to the medics.”

Yoann Maestri’s late hit on Sexton and Guilhem Guirado’s high tackle on Dave Kearney could move the citing commissioners into action.