John Hayes: French no longer intimidating

Two of the country’s most decorated ex-internationals insist Irish rugby has long ditched any inferiority complex ahead of trips to Paris.

“Paris is no longer a place where Ireland have to go and be intimidated,” said Alan Quinlan. “That has changed the last ten years or so. Think back to Drico’s three tries over there, that was a very important moment for all of that mindset.

The evaporation of France’s own joie de vivre has also played its part in recent Irish bullishness.