Rory Best on alert as French pledge to bleed

Ireland captain Rory Best has warned his team to brace themselves for a massive defensive challenge when they face France in today’s RBS 6 Nations showdown in Paris (2.25pm Irish time).

France have come under fire in recent times for appearing to lose their hard-bitten edge up front, but Clermont lock Paul Jedrasiak pledged France will “bleed for the shirt” at the Stade de France.

“The spiked helmet is still in our blood,” said Jedrasiak, who takes a seat on France’s bench today.