Battle-hardened Irish can win Six Nations war of attrition against France

After the arm-wrestle, grind and brutality of last year’s 10-9 defeat in Paris, Ireland know the only way to avenge that loss to France is to roll up their sleeves and prepare for another intensely physical game of inches in Dublin this evening.

That is the blunt reality of a game against Guy Noves’s team, who while possessing the talent to cut loose are perfectly content to bludgeon their way through opposing teams.

So while Ireland are aware of the potential threats out wide, which were the cause of their undoing against Scotland and Stuart Hogg in particular during their opening-round loss at Murrayfield, they also acknowledge that the French have the ability also to power straight over the top of them.