Former Ireland star Gordon D\u2019Arcy claims that Leinster\u2019s performances should be a serious concern for Andy Farrell ahead of the Six Nations.<\/p>\n
The annual international tournament kicks off at the start of next month with the Irish beginning their campaign against France in Saint-Denis on February 5.<\/p>\n
Over the past few years, there has been a strong Leinster<\/a> core to the Irish<\/a> team and that has delivered plenty of success.<\/p>\n However, Leo Cullen\u2019s men have not been as convincing this season, despite going three from three in the Investec Champions Cup.<\/p>\n Struggles against La Rochelle<\/p>\n Leinster only just scraped past La Rochelle at the weekend thanks to a Harry Byrne penalty, which snatched a 25-24 triumph.<\/p>\n Although they have now won every game since a 31-14 loss to Munster in mid-October, some of their displays have been underwhelming.<\/p>\n \u201cLeinster are having to work for everything, edging from win to win without producing a performance that could be described as complete or authoritative,\u201d D\u2019Arcy wrote in his Irish Times <\/a>column.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is an element of \u2018be careful about what you wish for\u2019 around those that wanted Leo Cullen\u2019s squad to be ruffled and scuffed a bit in the early part of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir latest victory, against La Rochelle, was as harum-scarum as it gets, but the key detail remains unchanged. They found a way to win.<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps it\u2019s as relevant to suggest that their opponents found a way to lose. Often, those results carry lasting implications for later in the season.<\/p>\n \u201cTraditionally, Leinster\u2019s dominance at this stage of the year has helped create a broader sense of optimism around Irish rugby, particularly in the build up to the Six Nations<\/a>. Under Andy Farrell, that anticipation has been genuine and largely justified.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, with performances dipping below what most would reasonably expect from teams harbouring Champions Cup ambitions, the narrative has shifted.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether fair or not, a darker cloud has begun to hover, replacing confidence with questions, and Irish rugby finds itself searching for answers at an uncomfortable time.\u201d<\/p>\n