Ireland's face toughest task as France come to town

It didn’t require France devouring the Netherlands as an entrée to establish the scale of what Stephen Kenny's team are up against for their opener

TOUGH TASK: Manager Stephen Kenny during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Same venue and same nations but different code and expectations.

Six weeks ago, form prevailed at Lansdowne Road when Ireland dispatched France in their Six Nations opener and launched a springboard for their Grand Slam success.