Finlay Bealham repaying Andy Farrell's faith as French test looms in Six Nations

Having waited seven years for his first Six Nations start, Finlay Bealham can expect to again wear the No 3 shirt when Ireland tackle France on Saturday.

With Tadhg Furlong still sidelined through injury, Bealham is poised to start back-to-back games for the first time in his Ireland career when the defending champions visit the Aviva Stadium.

The Connacht prop looked at home in the starting line-up in Cardiff, winning a first-half scrum penalty and impressing in the loose as Ireland made a dominant start to the championship.

However, Bealham knows that this weekend represents a step up in quality.

"Similar to the South African pack, they're big and have a lot of weight in there," said Bealham.

"We will have to be properly on it. If you're not on it against big packs like that, you'll be getting the reverse lights.

"We don't want that to happen so we'll make sure we have a good week in training and work best on it as possible."

Bealham admitted he felt a sense of responsibility when slotting in for Furlong in Cardiff, describing the British and Irish Lion as the best tighthead in the world, but he stood up to the challenge.

As well as providing scrum solidity, Bealham made 13 tackles against Wales, missing none, and also broke a couple of tackles in attack.

"Tadhg's left the No 3 jersey in a world-class place so I suppose there is a bit of pressure to come in and try to take off where he left, but I just play my game and focus on what I can do," he said.

"I don't try to play like Tadhg, I just play the way I play.

"It was a good win [against Wales] and I'm happy with some of the scrum stuff, it was good. Certainly I've a bit to work on, yes there was pressure but it is what it is at this level, there's always pressure.

"The more