We’ll need Sexton at his influential best

The issues and decisions that will impact tomorrow’s tournament-defining clash with France...

1. Who is in a better place to win the key mental battle?

With little or nothing to separate these two teams, the outcome of this game will come down to the side that wins the battle of the mind. Much has been made of how abject France have been in the Six Nations Championship over the last four years under Philippe Saint-Andre and with good reason. Under his watch they have finished in 4th, 4th, 6th, and 4th position. While Saint-Andre has never presided over a French win against Ireland, the points differential over his four games at the helm amounts to a measly +9. Ireland’s two wins have been one-score games, by two and seven points, respectively, while the other two contests both ended in a draw with us at our best and France supposedly off the pace.