'Home advantage has to be a weapon,' says Andy Farrell ahead of Ireland v France

It's four years since Ireland hosted France in Dublin in front of a paying and baying crowd and Andy Farrell wants to use the supporters as a "weapon".

Covid-19 restrictions meant that the 2021 renewal, which Ireland lost 15-13, was played behind closed doors.

And there was just one score between the teams last season in front of a packed out Stade de France, when the two titans went toe-to-toe for 80 minutes.

The sense of occasion and an electric atmosphere played its own part in the 30-24 home victory.

In a week where England’s World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward called for a change in regulations around the sale of alcohol in stadia, which some feel detracts from the atmosphere, Farrell said he was confident that wouldn’t be an issue for Saturday's 2.15pm kick-off (live on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio 1).

"Well, they’re definitely going to be up for it, aren’t they," he told RTÉ Sport.

"Everyone is looking forward to this. I mean, we’ve had half a day off today, I’ve been walking around Sandymount there and everyone is pumped.

"You know, I wish I was going to the game, and walking down to the game with my mates or my family or kids, because this is the type of game that everyone wants to be part of.

"Home advantage has to be a weapon for us. We’ve all got a responsibility for that."

Farrell was speaking after naming a panel that shows just one change to the squad that beat Wales last weekend, 34-10.

Hooker Dan Sheehan was ruled out with a hamstring injury and his place is taken by Rob Herring with Ronán Kelleher on the bench.

"It's not nice for Dan," said the Englishman, who is yet to taste victory over France as a head coach.

"Obviously he’s a fantastic player at the top of his form so anyone would miss a player in that