Stade and deliver

IRELAND will march confidently into the magnificent Stade de France tonight with spirits high and ambition soaring to face a French team reeling amid charges of mis-management.

The Irish will be supported by upwards of 30,000 fans, buoyed by the prospect of an upset win to firmly point the way to the finals in Germany in 2006.

Never before has such a critical match been so replete with positive signs for the Irish. Bran Kerr has virtually a fully fit, eager squad to choose from while the French have to try and compensate for the absence of a clutch of magnificent stars and overcome the stinging criticism of their fans.