Johnny Sexton: We must be clinical to get result in Paris

Ireland will, barring a bizarre turn of events in the Italian capital, need to beat France while scoring four tries away from home for the first time to claim the Six Nations title

Johnny Sexton celebrates scoring a try against Italy last week. Ireland need another bonus point win to secure a Six Nations title. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

A possible French suspension. England's assignment in Rome. An empty Stade de France. Not to mention the likely need for a bonus point against the French. There is an abundance of subplots orbiting Ireland's bid for an unlikely Six Nations title, even if Jonathan Sexton isn't all that interested in deviating from the main business of the day.

The Ireland skipper has faced the French five times in Saint-Denis and his record could not be more perfectly poised with two wins, a pair of defeats and one stalemate in 2012. It's a decent return given the trauma previous generations of Irishmen have experienced in the French capital but what they need now is above and beyond again.