Kidney: Key is not to let visitors settle

Declan Kidney has warned Ireland not to expect French flamboyance at the Aviva Stadium this evening but whatever way Philippe Saint-Andre’s team decide to play, the Irish head coach does not want them being able to settle into their chosen game plan.

Fair weather or foul, pragmatic or expansive, France may be winless after three games of this RBS 6 Nations but they have come to Ireland ready to stop the rot and inflict more pain on Kidney, whose tenure hangs in the balance after back-to-back defeats to England and Scotland.

Saint-Andre looks to be gearing up for a more forward-orientated territory-based game having restored kicking out-half Freddie Michalak to the No 10 jersey, with the metronomic penalty taker Morgan Parra retained at scrum-half and another boot in Florian Fritz installed at outside centre all capable of delivering the French pack a foothold in the Ireland half of the field.