Ross looks to the past for inspiration ahead of Paris joust

Ask the question as to what Ronan O’Gara and Mike Ross have in common and the instinctive answer would probably be not a lot, apart from the fact that they are both members of Declan Kidney’s Ireland squad.

One is an out-half, the other a prop — two rugby players separated by a veritable Grand Canyon of size and skill sets — but O’Gara and Ross share the distinction of being the only two members of this year’s Six Nations squad to have won at the Stade de France.

O’Gara’s winning memories come from his very first visit to Saint-Denis, back in March 2000 when (the currently injured) Brian O’Driscoll scored his famous hat-trick, but he has been back six times since and come away beaten every one.