Donal Lenihan: Italy come to Dublin with a whiff of upset in their nostrils

Given what transpired at the Stade de France, Gonzalo Quesada’s men will travel to Dublin without any inhibitions.

Dan Sheehan of Ireland in action against Italy last year. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

EARLY on Friday, I boarded the RER from my Paris base at Chatelet les Halles to Charles de Gaulle airport, less than 11 hours after having boarded the same train when making a hasty exit from the Stade de France.

With what had appeared like the entire 80,000 match attendance waiting to take the same transport, to get on board, it was a case of dropping the shoulder, keeping your feet, and making sure you were swept along with the emotional French tide.