Doris expecting emotional afternoon but focused on French test

The Six Nations showdown with Les Bleus will be the home farewell to a trio of stalwarts. 

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER: Caelan Doris with IRFU President Declan Madden during the squad photo on Friday. Pic: INPHO/Henry Simpson

Ireland will try to harness the emotion surrounding Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray’s final games in Dublin on Saturday but it is the challenge posed by France at Aviva Stadium that is most occupying captain Caelan Doris’s mind.

Doris was front and centre inside the Ireland camp on Thursday evening as one of three players alongside Finlay Bealham and Jack Conan celebrated at a lengthy jersey presentation on the occasion of their 50th caps. The final bows on home soil of back-row partner O’Mahony and his fellow Test centurions Healy and Murray will bring further sentimentality to proceedings in this penultimate Guinness Six Nations encounter yet the nature of the opposition, title rivals for the last four seasons France, represents a significant potential roadblock for an Irish side chasing a Grand Slam and looking to become the first side since the championship added Italy to the competition to win in three titles in a row.