Improve or we're doomed

TWO teams coming off totally unacceptable performances last weekend, one showing five changes, the other just one enforced alteration.

That's the situation France and Ireland find themselves in after the first round of the 2006 RBS Six Nations Championship ahead of this afternoon's clash at the Stade de France.

The French wielded the axe after Murrayfield and a hapless display against Scotland. Bernard Laporte had to be seen to take some sort of positive action after that shock defeat. His Irish counterpart, Eddie O'Sullivan, derived some solace from the win over Italy and left well enough alone until Thursday when Marcus Horan's illness led to the recall for his 47th cap of Reggie Corrigan.