Saint-Andre anticipates ‘intense’ affair at the Aviva

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre is relishing Saturday’s trial by fire at the Aviva as he aims to keep a special record intact.

Saint-Andre never lost in Dublin as a player — “I scored a try there with only one boot on which was a bit strange” — but he has yet to win there as a coach with his previous mission in 2013 ending in a 13-13 draw.

And he is under no illusions about what lies ahead.