Noir. That’s the word used by both Midi Olympique and L’Equipe in their Monday editions to describe France’s crushing defeat on Sunday at the hands of Ireland in Cardiff.

To qualify for selection on Donal Lenihan’s best ever World Cup XV, the players had to have at least one winner’s medal in the pocket

As he trudged off at Malahide on September 12, having scored a 31-ball six in a one-day international against Scotland, Andy Balbirnie might have dwelled upon a sense of missed opportunity.

Ireland’s Paul O’Connell has been touted as the next Martin Johnson – but the Munster star is quick to play down comparisons with England’s second-row colossus.