The Insider Ireland meet Les Bleus; saving cars; and is there an Afterlife for Ricky Gervais?

Traditionally French fans release a cockerel onto the field of play just before kick-off in their international games. I suppose it’s like letting the cat among the pigeons or some such but this clash will need no such theatrics as both sides have so much to prove and so much to lose. Ireland, last year’s Grand Slammers, can still win the championship with just two games left to play (the odds are high but not impossible). France, written off as a spent force following an impotent display against England, proved that there was life in the old rooster with a stirring performance against Scotland. In that match youth and experience, as well as backline elan and forwards’ brute force, combined to put the Scots to the sword. On top of that the French will still be smarting after Ireland nicked it last year at the Stade de France with that Johnny Sexton drop goal after 347 phases (or so) of play.

Now the pundits are saying that other teams have Ireland’s number tactically, that they are wise to the squad’s training-ground plays and have devised the methods to negate them. And yet there is the fact that Joe Schmidt’s battlehardened side have yet to click and at home in Dublin, with the crowd at their back, the French fancying it and a cockerel somewhere in the stadium, this could be the hour and the performance. At least that’s how it could be, or how a TV show of the week should be. After all what could be worse than going to Cardiff next week with nothing to take home but pride and a pat on the back? Coverage starts at 2pm with KO at 3pm. Commentary is from Alan Quinlan and Dave McIntyre.