D'Arcy full of respect for France

Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy is disappointed he will not be facing Yannick Jauzion on Saturday but insists whoever France select in midfield will pose a major threat.

Jauzion is considered the world’s finest centre but once again is unable to show why, with a fractured toe keeping him out of Saturday’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash in Paris.

The Toulouse back, who is expected to return for Italy on February 25, was replaced by the unconvincing Ludovic Valbon against Scotland and the number-12 shirt looks set to change hands once again.

Damien Traille has been recalled to the squad and is favourite to partner the impressive Florian Fritz, provided he has made a full recovery from his shoulder injury.

Traille’s experience and strength would be a welcome tonic for France following their embarrassing 20-16 defeat by Scotland and D’Arcy admits he would be a world-class replacement for Jauzion.

“I would love to play against Jauzion because he is the best centre in the world. He has everything I would like to be as a centre and you always want to play against the best,” said D’Arcy.

“But if he is not there then Traille is also one of the best in the world. France have so much depth in midfield. They have many great players to select from.”

France coach Bernard Laporte will ring the changes when he names his side today with several players expected to pay the price for the Murrayfield horror show.

D’Arcy believes that, whoever is selected, Ireland will face highly-charged opposition, but insists the Irish have not given up hope of repeating their heroic 27-25 victory in Paris six years ago.

“A French team that does not perform one week will more often than not come out and play a blinder the next week,” he said.

“We hope to be in that same mould. We did not play well last weekend against Italy but hope to put that right at the Stade de France.

“We are under no illusions. It is very hard to win in Paris. But there is a good spirit in this team.”

Ireland’s shaky performance against Italy came as a bitter disappointment following the successes of Munster and Leinster in the Heineken Cup.

They had plenty of possession but created nothing and D’Arcy has stressed the need to simplify the approach against France.

“The Italians wanted to put us under pressure and force us into making mistakes and we did that.

"They put us under pressure in midfield and there was a lot of talk of them being offside,” he said.

“My own view is they were offside but you are only offside if the whistle goes so they played the referee very well.

“Towards the final quarter we were a little more direct, got over the gain line and started winning penalties.

“We overcomplicated things at the start and tried to follow on from what Leinster and Munster had done in the Heineken Cup but didn’t get the balance right.

“The leaders on the field said: 'Let’s do the basics right' and it worked out. We have to give passes at the right time and make better decisions on Saturday.”