Jean-Marc Doussain talks up Irish half-back combination

Ireland’s half-back combination have been put on a par with New Zealand’s World Cup-winning pair by the man aiming to stop them in Paris on Saturday.

Toulouse scrum-half Jean-Marc Doussain, who has the distinction of being the only player in rugby history to make his Test debut in a World Cup final, raised the stakes ahead of the Stade de France clash by hailing Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton as world-class.

As if to further underline their importance, particularly to a revamped team, Ireland’s number nine and 10 combined to score all their team’s points in the opening weekend 16-16 draw with Wales on Sunday.