'I know the players will bounce back' – Simon Easterby insists France collapse will not damage Ireland in long term

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Rúaidhrí O'Connor

A "devastated" Simon Easterby believes Saturday’s second-half capitulation against France will not have long-term negative effects on the team.

The Ireland interim coach lamented his side’s inability to win the "crux" moments in the game as they struggled to turn their early pressure into points, before conceding two needless yellow cards and collapsing under the weight of France’s bench press as their 7/1 split worked a treat.