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Stephen Ferris believes Ireland have gone backwards after a disappointing Guinness Six Nations campaign.

Simon Easterby's side, winners in 2023 and 2024, finished third in the table following four wins and a dispiriting defeat to eventual winners France in round four.

Early victories over England and Scotland suggested Ireland had shaken off a poor Autumn Nations Series and set them on course for a Grand Slam.

However, they failed to take a bonus point from the nervy win over Wales or the heavy defeat to Les Bleus and finished off their season with a scrappy 22-17 success over Italy yesterday.

"I've got to say, they've regressed a little bit over the Six Nations," former Ulster and Ireland back row Ferris told RTÉ Sport.

"You expect them to get better, game in, game out, and they haven't.

"They really struggled [against Italy].

"Teams are putting it up to them, defensively getting into their faces. Their attack hasn't been functioning as well. Their kicking game, they're kicking a lot more.

"Are they a possession-based team? Are they moving more towards the Leinster style of kicking the ball more and trying to put pressure with their defence?

"I think they're in the middle ground somewhere and they've got to figure it out because international rugby won't be long coming around again."

Most of the Ireland regulars are tipped to travel with Andy Farrell’s Lions this summer, while those who don’t go to Australia are likely to play friendlies against Georgia and Portugal.

While former Ireland number 8 Jamie Heaslip didn’t agree that Ireland had gone backwards, he said standing still amounts to the same thing.

"I actually think they've plateaued," said Heaslip.

"They haven't gone forward, they haven't gone back.

"And that's dangerous in