Ireland's next string 'a long way off' - O'Brien

Former Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien believes there is a "big gap" between Andy Farrell's Test squad and his untested options.

After Ireland were thumped by France to start their 2026 Six Nations last week, there have been calls for a dramatic overhaul of the side who were ranked number one in the world as recently as 2024.

Questions over the quality of Ireland's depth have been asked anew, however, after an Ireland XV outfit and the side's under-20s were heavily beaten by their England and France counterparts respectively over the weekend.

O'Brien was on the former's coaching ticket for the game at Thomond Park and believes what was ostensibly an Ireland second string are a "long way off" the level required to bolster the Test panel for Saturday's hosting of Italy at the Aviva Stadium (14:10 GMT).

"Let's call a spade, a spade," he told BBC Sport NI's Ireland Rugby Social podcast.

"There's no point in saying the gap is not that far away. It is, they're a long way off.

"There's a big gap between that team we had and the first team obviously, still. How do those lads that we were in control of last week close that gap to get there?

"There's a lot of work to be done still. Those lads need to really hone in on getting better and do everything they can do to get better."

Recalling his own days of representing an Ireland XV, a team then called the Ireland Wolfhounds, O'Brien remembers an eye-opening realisation regarding the physicality required at the top level.

"We were all there at some point. I remember saying to myself after those games, 'you need to be so physical'. That's the big thing you take out of those games.

"You get run over and you get battered and you get thrown around the place and you say 'I'm not there yet'. That's the reality of it.

"There's no point saying anything else. In international rugby you need collision winners, physical people. You can be smart and a good player, but you need physicality and momentum."

O'Brien believes there is one exception from Friday's defeated panel, adding that Ulster back row Bryn Ward could "go in there straight away" and contribute for Farrell.

The 21-year-old was part of the senior group for their Six Nations preparation camp in Portugal before turning out for the Ireland XV in Limerick then re-joining the full squad to prepare for this weekend's game.

"Bryn Ward was very good. He's a big, physical fella, I like what he's about," added O'Brien.

"I think he can make the grade to go in there straight away."