Match preview: Another patchy display won't do, Ireland must be close to perfect

Ireland may be three wins from three but have yet to put in a consistent performance across 80 minutes

Skipper Caelan Doris during the Ireland Captain's Run at Aviva Stadium. Pic: Ben Brady, Inpho

Always on and ever ready, across the board. That is what is expected of Ireland at Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon as their Guinness Six Nations dominance faces its toughest examination to date.

A meeting with France has been the defining fixture of this historic championship in each of the last three seasons and so it will be in 2025 with Ireland chasing a first three-peat of titles that will make them ground-breakers in the Six Nations pantheon. Beat the French in Dublin and a second Grand Slam in three years becomes very much a possibility with Italy their remaining opponents in Rome seven days later.