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With tails between legs after an unconvincing win over Italy and less than inspiring World Cup, Ireland must step into the Stade de France today and become the team they once were... Ireland's rugby sanity depends upon it... France looked superb last week against Scotland, with perfect manoeuvres
Aurelien Rougerie has insisted that if France underestimate Ireland this week they will pay a heavy penalty! We have prepared for this match with total seriousness all week,' 'There is a lot of talent in this Ireland team, in every position, and I wouldn't like it if they rediscovered their unit
2008 RBS 6 NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, February 9 FRANCE v IRELAND, Stade de France, 4pm Irish time/5pm local time (live RTÉ Two/BBC One) FRANCE: Cedric Heymans; Aurelien Rougerie, David Marty, Damien Traille, Vincent Clerc; David Skrela, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde; Nicolas Mas, Dimitri Szar
Vincent Clerc was surprisingly dropped to the replacements after his two tries against Scotland, but Malzieu's thigh injury allows Clerc to regain his place - Anthony Floch takes his place on the bench (worryingly Clerc has a good record against Ireland!). Rougerie starts on the right wing, and S
Eddie O'Sullivan is hoping to end the Paris drought this weekend, with just one win in Paris since 1972! The last win over the French was in 2000 when a hat-trick of tries by Brian O'Driscoll resulted in a 27-25 victory. The heat is definitely on after last weeks performance, O'Sullivan knows
Unlike the ladies, Eddie O'Sullivan has rung the changes for France this weekend. Andrew Trimble moves into the centre to partner Brian O'Driscoll (with the absence of D'Arcy). This causes a further shift with Robert Kearney on the left wing and Geordan Murphy moving to the right, Girven Dempsey
John O'Sullivan has named the same team that beat Italy to play France this weekend. RELAND WOMEN'S TEAM AND REPLACEMENTS (v France, 2008 RBS Women's Six Nations, Sunday, February 10, St Gratien, Paris, 3pm): Sarahjane Belton (capt); Lynne Cantwell, Patrique Kelly, Shannon Houston, Grace Davit
An unchanged 22-man French squad from their 27-6 win over Scotland will face Ireland on Saturday. French coach Marc Lievremont will name his team and replacements for the clash with Ireland tomorrow. FRANCE Squad (v Ireland): Forwards - Julien Brugnaut (Dax), Lionel Faure (Sale), Nicolas Ma
The first major casualty of the campaign is Gordon D'Arcy who broke his arm during the 16-11 victory over Italy. A stress fracture of the forearm, will mean the end of Gordon D'Arcy's Six Nations campaign and an operation on Monday. It's likely that Trimble will line-up alongside O'Driscoll no
The under 20's struggled to put one over the Italians in difficult conditions - thankfully two penalties by Martin Dufficy separated the teams. IRELAND UNDER-20s: Niall Morris (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster), Eoin O'Malley (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Eamonn Sher
