Schmidt admits Ireland's Six Nations dream is almost over
Joe Schmidt has admitted Ireland have only a "very, very outside chance" of now retaining their RBS 6 Nations title.
Ireland lost out 10-9 in France on Saturday, Maxime Medard's late try denying the visitors back-to-back wins in Paris for the first time in 89 years.
Head coach Schmidt has now conceded that Ireland will struggle to secure an unprecedented third-consecutive Six Nations crown, with defeat to France following the 16-16 draw with Wales.
Schmidt battled to insist that Ireland will focus simply on preparing to take on England at Twickenham on Saturday, February 27, knowing full well however just how tough such single-mindedness will be.
"There's no hiding our disappointment that while mathematically there's an outside chance, realistically we know that it is a very, very outside chance," said Schmidt.
"To be honest, we are a week-to-week team. The titles that we have won in the last two years have never been discussion points. The next game has been the discussion point.
"For us it is about building towards Twickenham and putting together the best performance that we can.
"The first thing is to get the medical assessment and put together the players that we have that are fit and ready to go."