The Generation Game

THE MORE you distance yourself from the events of Stade de France 10 days ago, the more the feeling grows that the opportunity for an all-too-rare victory in the French capital was spurned.

In the interim, there has been a measure of relief and satisfaction that Ireland showed considerable composure in recovering a 20-point deficit when a sizeable French victory looked very much on the cards.

If Paris is to prove a turning point in what, up to that stage, has been a torrid season in the international jersey, then Saturday’s game again Scotland offers the perfect opportunity to increase the pace of this team’s rehabilitation.