Ronan O'Gara: Five points for Ireland will spook edgy French

The out-half dynamic was Ireland in microcosm at Twickenham – everybody got a bit distracted by 80 frantic minutes at Twickenham and didn’t really adjust to what was in front of them

SMILES BETTER: James Lowe goes over to score his side's first try at Twickenham.

THERE’S a weather phenomenon that occurs annually in France that turns the sky in these parts a deep shade of orange for a few days in March. The meteorological service calls it le sirocco and it is caused by particles of sand from the Sahara Desert being picked up on the wind and blown over the country.

It has been especially visible over the west of France on Wednesday, most notably Bordeaux and here in La Rochelle, before moving north yesterday. The chances of it depositing its hazy film over the Stade de France on Saturday night appear slim, but that hasn’t assuaged the naval-gazing and anxiety that lingers over the capital ahead of Le Crunch and the final weekend of the Six Nations championship.