Brendan O’Brien: History teaches Ireland to approach Bordeaux with caution

If you know your history then this most striking of cities in the southwest of France has a bloody past where Ireland is concerned.

INTO THE DEN: Ireland players, from left, Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Finlay Bealham, Jeremy Loughman and Jonathan Sexton during their captain's run at the Stade de Bordeaux. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

News last May that this week’s European Championship qualifier between France and the Republic was being switched to the Parc des Princes was always going to trigger long-dormant feelings of dread in the Irish psyche.

Twelve times the national rugby team tried their luck there and all they had to show for it was a dozen losses, countless bruised bodies, busted noses, stitches and a collective mental anguish that would never fully heal.