Kearney: We must start better and just hang in there

Rob Kearney has described Ireland’s failure to win in Paris since 2000 as “sad” but breaking the pattern will require no silly errors or soft tries when Declan Kidney’s team returns to Stade de France on Sunday.

Full-back Kearney yesterday received a clean bill of health along with the rest of Ireland’s walking wounded from the 42-10 win over Italy last weekend and can be expected to be named today in Kidney’s side to face France.

The last time the Irish enjoyed success in the French capital, Kearney was just 13, when a Brian O’Driscoll hat-trick of tries helped Ireland to a 27-25 win on March 19, 2000. The Leinster star, now 25, believes the current side has to begin Sunday’s game much more smartly than they did in the first two games of this Six Nations campaign against Wales and Italy or have done in too many games in Paris.