Dempsey: Irish underdogs may have their day

ONCE they dealt comfortably with the favourites tag when, for example, they went into last season’s Six Nations ranked as the second best team in the world. Now Ireland are underdogs growling for respectability.

Yet historically when Irish teams have thrived their backs are against the wall and full back Girvan Dempsey is confident that this will be the case against France in Stade de France tomorrow night.

“It’s the situation that we got ourselves into,” a relaxed Dempsey said this week. “We’re realistic in that we’re well capable of turning this around.”