France have potential to spoil Aviva send-off for retiring trio

The Irish rugby landscape has changed dramatically in the last two decades.

From wooden spoons to Grand Slam expectations, this weekend could be another monumental timestamp in the history of the country's success.

There’ll be a seismic shift in playing personnel, as Ireland prepare for a ferocious decider in this season’s Six Nations championship, with the news that Cian Healy, Peter O' Mahony and Conor Murray are retiring from the international game.

This will be their last international match at Aviva Stadium, after amassing 371 caps between them.

I don’t remember the last time Ireland named a squad without any of the three of them.

You’d expect all three to play a part for their last run-out on home soil, bringing an emotional edge to this round-four clash, as if any more emotion or meaning was needed.

Ireland will be losing three Test centurions, two Lions captains and the most experienced Irish player ever.

371 caps brings an enormous amount of experience and rugby intelligence.

Including the three of them in a potential championship decider is a no-brainer, considering they have all won five championships in their careers so far.

Looking for their sixth, Murray, Healy and O’ Mahony have won five of Ireland’s six championships since Italy joined the tournament in 2000.

Ireland have only won 16 titles in all iterations of the tournament to date.

The trio have won half of the team's total number of Grand Slams. The enormity of what they have achieved in the game should not go understated.

I played with Pete and Conor for what was a brief stint of their careers, but a large chunk of mine.

It was evident then that I was rubbing shoulders with some of the greatest players to play with Munster and Ireland.

As a retired player, people