An ice-cold Stade Francais will today play host to a red-hot fixture of International rugby, as the men in green of Ireland cross the waters to face their biggest challenge of this year's 6 nations, France.
Last week's tepid performance from Declan Kidney's men against a woeful Italian side was far from the dynamic, explosive Ireland we have come to know of recent, but it seemed for all teams that it was just about the win, no matter how inconsistent the play.This week's fixture is a different matter all together for the Irish. Away from home and against a buoyant French side, nothing less than a spectacular display will be required when the game kicks off this afternoon.
Historically, the trip to Paris has been the thorn in Ireland's side, with only 4 victories conjured up there since the second-world-war, a fact that O'Driscoll and his men will be trying to forget when they run out in front of the roaring Parisian crowd.
Besides 2 points in the standings, today's encounter will also signify where Ireland are on the International stage. Although they won the grand-slam in last year's championship as well as providing a core group of players to the British Lions, they have failed to step up to the plate when the World Cup rolls around, and have struggled when playing away against the big three of the southern hemisphere.
If they can break this run of bad away-form, it will be monumental for their confidence and will send a very clear message with the 2011 World Cup on the horizon, something their captain Paul O'Connell spoke on earlier in the week, “If we beat France away it will be an incredible feeling and a good box ticked,” O’Connell said. “It would be a highlight in my career. Psychologically, going to France has been tough for Irish teams but probably since 2000 the lads have been breaking that down.”
There are a few key battles that will play pivotal roles in today's match, and ultimately decide whether Irealnd can change their luck. Brian O'Driscoll is arguably the most-feared and most lethal 13 in the world, but he will have his work cut-out against a rampant Mathieu Bastareaud, who scored twice in the victory over Scotland last week. Bastareaud, despite this contribution , will have not faced as professional an outfit as D'Arcy and BOD, so whether he can withstand the Leinster onslaught will be a key factor in the end result.
In the pack, the mighty Jamie Heaslip and his fellow back-rowers, David Wallace and Stephen Ferris, will be in for an 80-minute slog against the likes of Imanol Harinordoquy, Fulgence Ouedraogo and Thierry Dusatoir, a back row battle that will be key to possession and momentum for both sides.
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