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.