Paris promises an affair to remember

BACKS coach Alan Gaffney is hoping Ireland can claim what would be a rare win in Paris in style after last weekend’s stuttering start to the defence of the Six Nations title.

Declan Kidney’s side engineered a 23-3 lead in the first half against Italy last Saturday but they failed to kick on from there in what was an unimpressive all-round performance.

That was partly down to the Italians, who travelled to Dublin with limited ambition but the same will hardly apply in the Stade de France between two sides who have concocted highly entertaining contests in recent meetings.