Ready to spring surprise in Paris

ON the face of it, today’s RBS Six Nations clash at the Stade de France is all about damage limitation for Ireland.

Indeed, the only hope of an Irish victory appears to rest with a possible overconfidence on the part of coach Mark Lievremont, coach of Les Bleus.

To initially make six changes after winning the first game under Lievremont’s stewardship by 26-9 at Murrayfield, smacks of smugness and a belief that the visit of a struggling Irish side affords the ideal opportunity for experimentation.