France expecting tough assignment

France scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde predicts tomorrow’s showdown with Ireland will provide his team with a tougher test than last weekend’s RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Scotland.

Many thought a new-look Les Bleus side would struggle against the Scots at Murrayfield on Sunday, but they swept to a comfortable 27-6 victory in coach Marc Lievremont’s first game in charge.