Kiss wants to see some fire

Ireland’s players have been urged to “breathe some fire” and make a statement against France tonight as they bid to make amends for last week’s opening RBS 6 Nations defeat to Wales.

Assistant coach Les Kiss made his plea as Ireland landed in freezing Paris yesterday with the odds stacked against them heading to Stade de France for a game forecast to be played in sub-zero temperatures, just six days after slumping to a last-minute 23-21 defeat at home to the Welsh.

It may be cold in the French capital but the prospect of playing with a windchill of minus 12 degrees centigrade, conditions that will necessitate a late pitch inspection this evening, less than two hours before kick off, will be irrelevant to the Irish players, who have been charged with raising the temperature themselves following their Aviva Stadium disappointment.