He does have a point

Since the grand slam era Irelands win rate has fallen to 54%
under Eddie we were always just one match away. The 2007 side still ranks with me as teh best side Ireland ever produced and were the boucne of a ball away from the grand slam they deserved when France scored in the dying seconds and would have won had O Driscoll been fit

They annilated Italy & England that year and disposed of Wales in Cardiff clinically.

Of course the RWC 2007 was an unbridled disaster but what cannot be argued is that Eddie had fantastic campaigns in 2003,2004,2006, 2007(one defeat in each) and Ireland under Kidney look to be going backwards

Yes the supposed golden generation are getting long in the tooth but he has Ferris, O Brien, Heaslip, Murray, Sexton, Earls, McFadden coming through

The rules of rugby were changed after Ireland won the grand slam in 2009 and Kidney has not adapted well enough

We are now a team who can pull off one good result each campaign as opposed to a side who win 4 out of 5 games in the 6 nations and theres no shame in that when you need luck with injuries and a smaller pool compared to France



Backline needs to be revolutionised(more brute strength and trying to go through the door instead of around it) and Ireland showed no intensity on Sunday and deserved to lose

The pitch will act as a leveller tomorrow. With hot air being blown onto it under blankets, I suspect it will cut up badly. I'd be very surprised if France can pull away in the conditions and the Irish defence can't be any worse than last week. A hammering would probably be the best thing long term, but I fear we might eke out a victory and the papers will be gushing with praise for DK on Sunday. One thing's for sure, he won't walk.

If there was a 6N award for misplaced confidence the Irish supporters would win hands down,I'll agree there is no intensity what the team needs is another national anthem to fire them up or send the opposition to sleep.

I predict a riot.

A few interviews from within the camp this week have suggested the need for Ireland to go to war.  It might be just the usual cliched chat, but France have had us in their pocket for a long while and its hard to even begin to know how we can beat them.  We might as well try something new, and we might just try getting nasty.  Decco's neck is on the line tonight.  And a few of the players necks.  It's do or die.

Also Dave Pearson is in charge.  Having bottled showing a red whilst linesman last week, he might just be a bit trigger happy this week.

You can back a red card at 20/1.  Not outstanding value I know but I just have an inkling.

Was thinking of doubling it with a red in Man U Liv game, but a red in that game is a very disappointing 9/4.

http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7503567,00.html

Sexton possibly out of the game, so the O'Gara/Sexton debate can start all over again right now

Hard to not be defeatist when you have lost 11 from 12 and have one win in Paris in 40 years.

You'll get old school alright if ROG starts.  Proper old school shyte.  Fra must be licking their lips at the prospect.  1/4 beckons.

ICBD, just sick of hearing the constant drivel from cliched old hacks and ex-players from the amature or close to the amature era shamelessly mumbling on about french flair etc (which imho is their own 'unique' way of saying that they were forever hammered. Last year I thought Ireland played all the rugby scoring 3 tries to 1, D'arcy's no tackle on Rougerie and gave away a hatfull of soft penalties to an in-form Parra, and still could have won it if Cronin held onto the ball with the line open.

It was kinda bizarre alright, with Parra kicking penos from everywhere in his half in the warm-up. Remember 2 years ago Flannery mistaken Palisson for a football.

Flannery is the epitome of that problem. Great player when his head was right, but prone to doing really stupid things. BOD on the other hand is the exact opposite, which is why he is a great.

any updates/news re pitch inspection?

Next inspection is at 6:30 isn't it?

I'm seeing -2 dropping to -6 by KO - clear dry evening  Strongly believe they will let this go on.

Worried about this game tbh, i think we papered over the cracks last week against wales when been honest wales poor kicking kept us in the game.

poux back in the front row scares me, if he scrummages the way that he can do (and is let) we could be destroyed in the scrum, add that to a weak defence in midfield and we could be hockied.

decision on sexton being delayed until before kick off, that strikes me as not good, if o gara starts it just weakens our midfield even more.

sad to say im expecting a 15-20 point defeat and have taken the 2.30 available here with france -9.5.

hate backing against my own team but i firmly believe that kidney has shown us his limitations and its time for him to go.

Thats if yer go with the form book, when do Ireland play to the form book thou?

Adversity & bad weather plays into ireland's hands tonight although I do fear for us when we've the liabilty at 13.... stick earls on the wing or play him off the bench, still not convinced by him at Int level... need a good head to play at the top level & sadley too many of the irish team play with only their hearts - thats our real weakness when it comes to being a top 4 side in the world (Semi-finalist)

I hear what yer saying b68 but i'm a bit more optimistic (green-blinkered morelike) for tonight

Ahem RM but was there not enough intensity in the Connacht performance against quins for you ????

Sorry Ballaman, that was a nasty oversight!

i've got Fra down as the least dodgy fav of the weekend - I had Eng as worst and to be honest sub 1.20 I'm deffo having a look at Wales too.  Less than 4.5 for an Irish win as Paris just looks bad value to me.

a lot of assumption that what happens in Rome, happens in Paris.   The big difference is Paris has no snow.

It's cold which makes the Irish somehow a better team

I agree with Vis.
The French look overpriced(they have only been beaten twice at home have they not ?)
I don't back at those sort of prices,but while I was happy to lay England I really wouldn't wanna lay France at the same price(Que Ireland scoot up)