Fearing the worst

“TOSACH maith, leath na hoibre.”

The new captain, Paul O’Connell, was in similar frame of mind as he resurrected a phrase employed by his Munster teammate Frankie Sheahan after a famous victory in the French capital. “We need ice in the mind, fire in the belly”, said O’Connell.

These expressions alone bring home just how big an assignment awaits Ireland as they take on a fired up, new look French XV performing in front of their passionate home crowd and in weather and ground conditions ideally suited to the way they like to play their rugby.

Winning in Paris has always invariably proved a mammoth task for Ireland. When they did so in 2000, they were bridging a 29 year gap since they had previously done so at the old Stade Colombes. With at least six key men unavailable because of injury, the sheer scale of the task is of Everest proportions and here and now I would readily accept an honourable defeat.

Naturally enough, the players and management don’t admit to any such negative thoughts and relish a situation where they have an immediate opportunity to avenge their heavy World Cup defeat by France in November.

“We let it get away from us that day and we want to redress the events of the Telstra Dome”, stressed O’Sullivan. “We did not do ourselves justice. How can we put it right? By not giving away 27 points in the first half hour. So a good start is absolutely essential.”