Six Nations: We want revenge, says French coach

Revenge will be in the air at Lansdowne Road on Saturday when France take on resurgent Ireland.

The French were stunned last March when a hat-trick of tries from star centre Brian O’Driscoll helped the Irish to their first win in Paris for 28 years.

O’Driscoll, who missed Ireland’s opening 41-22 win in Italy with a shoulder injury, will be back to torment the French once more as Warren Gatland’s men seek their first back-to-back win over the Tricolours for 26 years.

Coach Bernard Laport admits that defeat still rankles and at a news conference in Dublin today he echoed the comments of team manager Jo Maso, who claimed the French ‘‘want to give them a taste of their own medicine’’.

Laporte said: ‘‘When you lose a match, the next game you want to win, so France will try to get revenge.’’

Captain Fabien Pelous, one of only three survivors from that 27-25 defeat, believes the current French team will be better equipped to stave off the fast-improving Irish, who have won four of their last five Six Nations Championship matches.

‘‘Last year we didn’t have our full team because of injuries,’’ said Pelous. ‘‘This is a better team and we can improve on the Scotland game.’’

While France struggled to overcome the Scots in Paris a fortnight ago, Ireland gained a comprehensive victory over the Azzurri but Laporte demonstrated faith in his players by naming a virtually unchanged side.

Scrum-half Philipp Carbonneau will make his first start since April 1999 after replacing the suspended Fabien Galtie.

‘‘We cannot be satisfied with the Scotland game but a few things were okay for us,’’ said Laporte. ‘‘We still have trust in this team.

‘‘We have seen from the European Cup that Ireland is now a complete rugby team. They are now one of the biggest rugby teams in the world and they probably have the best back line in the world, individually and also collectively.

‘‘It is always tough in Italy and Ireland showed their quality by winning by such a large score.’’

Meanwhile, winger Tyrone Howe rejoined the Ireland squad session at Greystones today after recovering from illness and will play on Saturday.

Shane Horgan, who was withdrawn from the Ireland A team as a precaution, keeps his place in an enlarged 23-man squad.