Writing in the Irish Independent, Tony Ward believes the Heineken Cup semi-final defeats for Leinster and Munster should act as a wake-up call for the national side.
"If you have to experience the lows to truly appreciate the highs, the past few days have certainly cast an even rosier light on Irish rugby's extraordinary achievements of 2009. Short of winning the World Cup, I doubt we will ever witness its like again.
"But one year on, it's the French who are well on top. In the Six Nations showdown in Paris in February, and in both Heineken Cup semi-finals as well as the Amlin Challenge Cup penultimate round, they have reconfirmed their dominance over the Irish in the most emphatic way.
"Even at this distance, France can be underlined as serious contenders for next year's World Cup. Could we have said the same about Ireland a year ago?"
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