Saint-Andre opts for size as France eye the big prize

If Ireland are to win in Paris for just the second time in 42 years then they may have to do it the hard way after France coach Philippe Saint-Andre named his strongest side thus far in the Six Nations.

Saint-Andre, once a mercurial wing and scorer of one of the all-time great Test tries at Twickenham in the Grand Slam decider in 1991, has long preferred the big and often unsubtle in his teams.

So it is no surprise he has responded to an unconvincing last-gasp victory in Edinburgh last week with four changes, bringing in three experienced players in Louis Picamoles, Dimitri Szarzewski and Remi Tales as well as one, Gael Fickou, whose best years still lie some way in the future.