Young guns hoping to put down a marker in A team mission

WITH Limoges a prohibitive 400km south of Paris, there won’t be too many Irish fans at tonight’s ‘A’ international between France and Ireland (6.30pm).

More’s the pity, because though Limoges is more renowned for its past - 19th century porcelain in particular - this game promises to offer a fascinating glimpse into the not-so-distant future of Irish rugby.

There was a time when a place on an Irish ‘A’ side was more of a consolation prize for senior pros hovering around the fringes of the senior squad, but now youth is given its chance.