Rating every Ireland player from the 2025 Six Nations: Talented back’s Lions chances ‘harmed’ but ‘star man’ shows world-class credentials
Jack Crowley, Sam Prendergast and Dan Sheehan in action for Ireland during the 2025 Six Nations.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 Six Nations, we look at every player’s performance from across the Championship, and here’s how we rated Simon Easterby’s Ireland stars.
Outside backs
Hugo Keenan: As ever, was very solid throughout the Six Nations. Never let Ireland down during the tournament with his aerials skills once again top drawer. There weren’t too many standout performances from the full-back but he was ultra-reliable and counter-attacked well on occasion. 7
Mack Hansen: Played three games but his best contribution certainly came in the final match against Italy where he started to find holes. It was otherwise a quiet Six Nations for Hansen, who struggled to get into the games against England and Wales. 6
James Lowe: One of Ireland’s best in the opening three encounters before injury cruelly struck just before the all-important France clash. Lowe returned for their tournament finale but he was not the same player as he finished a superb Six Nations on a slightly low note. 8
Calvin Nash: Came in late on for Mack Hansen against Scotland and was excellent in the victory before he was, in our view, harshly dropped for the Wales clash. Was once again called upon when Lowe went down before the France game but that time he struggled. Deserves more opportunity, particularly with Hansen failing to find his best and Lowe turning 33 later this year. 6
Jamie Osborne: Despite one poor pass, Osborne was decent enough against Wales and played a role in their second-half comeback, but the risk of playing him at wing did not pay off in the France contest. Another talented player that needs more game time with their stalwarts now in their 30s. 5
Centres
Garry Ringrose: A really disappointing tournament for the star centre. Ringrose was fine in their opening two matches before having a shocker Six Nations from thereon in. He was sent-off against Wales, which meant he missed the France clash, before the Leinster playmaker faltered defensively in the narrow Italy win. 4
Bundee Aki: Whether from the start or off the bench, Aki was superb. Over the past couple of years, the Connacht man has elevated his game to become one of the best centres in the world. The only worry is how long that will last. He is 35 in April and, at the moment, Ireland are far too reliant on him. 8
Robbie Henshaw: Tough and uncompromising without being an absolute standout this year. Certainly much better than Ringrose but not quite as effective as Aki. Henshaw still ended the tournament in credit, though. 7
Fly-halves
Sam Prendergast: The Scotland game is doing a lot of the heavy lifting because, if we discount that, it was an underwhelming Six Nations from the 22-year-old. Ireland have placed a lot of trust in him – they evidently see him as their long-term fly-half – but he didn’t deliver on that initial promise. 5
Jack Crowley: Messed around by the Ireland coaches, who have rather undermined the Munster star since the Autumn Nations Series and also harmed his Lions chances. At the moment, it is quite clear that Crowley is the best fly-half in the country but he has not been rewarded for that. Granted, Prendergast probably does have a higher ceiling, but it is not like Crowley is old and on the wane. In terms of his performances, we didn’t get to see a whole lot of him, but he changed the game when he came on against England. 5
Scrum-halves
Jamison Gibson-Park: Classy as ever from Gibson-Park, who remains a world-class scrum-half. His form suffered slightly as the team struggled towards the end of the competition, but he was still one of their best players. 8
Conor Murray: In his final Six Nations before retirement, Murray barely had any time on the field due to the importance of Gibson-Park to the team. He was solid when he came on but ultimately it was difficult to judge his contribution. 5
Loose forwards
Caelan Doris: Went into the tournament as favourite to lead the British and Irish Lions and probably just about held onto that tag by the end of it. Doris certainly wasn’t poor – in fact he produced performances most would be delighted with – but the number eight just didn’t quite reach his usual standards. 7
Josh van der Flier: See Doris. Van der Flier, who has become a crucial cog in the Irish back-row, played well enough, certainly in the first three matches, but his form dropped off slightly in the final two games. 7
Ryan Baird: Started against England but was used as a replacement after the opener, particularly impressing versus Wales. He was otherwise relatively quiet as Ireland tried to find a suitable role for the talented back five forward. 5
Jack Conan: In terms of the job he was given, Conan was superb. There has always been the question of whether you can start him alongside Doris and Van der Flier, but he seems to have found his calling as an impact replacement. Was then given the chance to start in Rome and took it as he was one of their better performers in a poor team display. 8
Peter O’Mahony: Like Murray, this was O’Mahony’s final Tests in the green jersey. The flanker rolled back the years at Murrayfield with a stellar display before his form dropped off after that. France probably showed that the legendary Ireland back-rower was right to call it a day. 6
Locks
Tadhg Beirne: One of the shining lights in the pack and was in many outlets’ team of the tournament, including ours. Beirne impressed in all facets, from the set-piece to the closer exchanges at the breakdown as he continued to show that he is one of the best locks in the world. 8
James Ryan: Disappointing in all honesty. Ryan has gone from one of the first names on the team sheet to perhaps lucky to make the bench. He did start three of Ireland’s Tests due to Joe McCarthy’s injury, with him among the replacements for the Wales and France games, but the Leinster second-row struggled to make any sort of impact. 4
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Joe McCarthy: Failed to produce the same standard as last year in what was a big learning curve for the 24-year-old. Many thought that he would dominate at Test level after bursting onto the scene during the 2024 tournament, but McCarthy is perhaps suffering a case of ‘second season syndrome’. The powerhouse lock certainly wasn’t poor but he struggled to make the same impact physically. 6
Iain Henderson: Played 19 minutes against England and that was it. Has gradually drifted down the Ireland pecking order over the past couple of years to the extent that he is now just a bit-part player. 3
Hookers
Ronan Kelleher: Started the first two games and showed some good physicality in both, but Kelleher then suffered an injury and missed the final three matches. Remains a crucial part of the squad but it wasn’t his best tournament. 5
Dan Sheehan: Ireland’s star man who produced a remarkable effort in the Six Nations considering he had only just returned from a nasty knee injury. Sheehan scored five tries in the tournament, which was joint-second in the list behind Louis Bielle-Biarrey, and impressed with his all-round game. Truly a world-class player. 9
Gus McCarthy: Was on the bench twice due to Kelleher’s injury but he barely featured. McCarthy had a grand total of 16 minutes due to the form of Sheehan, but his time will surely come over the next few years. 3
Rob Herring: Like McCarthy, his chance came due to Kelleher’s absence but he too only got a few minutes in the saddle. 3
Props
Finlay Bealham: Deputised for Tadhg Furlong for most of the championship and in general had a good month-and-a-half. His standout display came against Scotland as Bealham once again proved that he will rarely let Ireland down. A very solid option at tighthead. 7
Andrew Porter: A mixed tournament for the loosehead, who started off strongly against England and Scotland but he was heavily penalised in the third round encounter with Wales. Overall, it ended with him in credit, though, as he was a ubiquitous presence throughout Ireland’s five matches. 7
Cian Healy: Followed Murray and O’Mahony into retirement at the conclusion of the Six Nations after a fabulous Test career. Became a bit-part player towards the latter stages of his stint, however, and barely featured in the 2025 championship. 4
Tom Clarkson: A player who has real ability but he struggled to make an impression in this tournament. Particularly in the set-piece, Clarkson went backwards more than he went forwards as the front five failed to set a good enough platform. 4
Jack Boyle: Made an impact on debut against Wales with his first ever scrum at Test level resulting in a pressure-relieving penalty. He then had some game time against Italy and was also very solid there. A promising start for a player who should get more opportunities following Healy’s retirement. 5
Tadhg Furlong: Missed most of the tournament through injury but featured in their final match with Italy and made an immediate impact, getting the Irishmen on the front foot in the set-piece. It’s just a shame he was unable to play more. 6
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