Crunch time for Ireland as they chase the grand slam

The old adage of styles making fights rings true when it comes to meetings between Ireland and France.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

Across these last few years, at a time when the strength and depth of the championship have perhaps never been better, these pair have stood apart as Six Nations heavyweights; their annual dingdongs almost invariably decisive to the destination of the title.

The mathematics may not be totally straightforward – England harbour faint hopes – but come tomorrow afternoon, these two will crouch in their corners as the reigning, defending, historychasing champions and a No 1 contender so capable of dealing a knockout blow. After 80 exhausting, exhilarating minutes, just one will be left standing.

“This match has special stakes,” France boss Fabien Galthie admitted yesterday, seeking not to play down the importance of a likely title bout. Ireland will still be in the hunt even with a defeat, but the strength of the visitors’ points difference means that they will be the likelier trophy-hoisters if the grand slam dreams are dashed.

“They’re a very high-level team,” Galthie continued. “One of the two best nations in the world, if not the best, and they’re playing at home. It's true that the challenge is immense. And taking on a huge challenge is what we’re looking for.”

France soothed the sores of their sloppy Twickenham defeat to England by delivering the sort of performance that perhaps only this Six Nations crop is capable of. The intoxicating highs that Galthie’s side reached against Italy stood in stark contrast to the slipshod showing two weeks before and raised the fear of a French side again flitting between fabulous and frustrating with relative regularity.