DONAL LENIHAN: France and the sitting ducks of 1982

Anyone expecting the French to pitch up in Dublin on Saturday and roll over after losing their opening three games in the Six Nations for the first time since 1982 had better think again.

With unfortunate timing, Philippe Saint-Andre finally got his selections right in their recent defeat by England but butchered any chance of winning with a flawed (and evidently preordained) use of his bench. Trust him to rectify the latest error of his ways by Saturday.

Ironically, the last time the French faced the ignominy of a championship whitewash, once again it was Ireland who offered the opportunity for redemption. The circumstances however, certainly from an Irish point of view, were slightly different.