Preview: Ireland aim for statement win over France

Get ready for a blockbuster.

The meeting of the world's top two sides, for the first time in the Guinness Six Nations, is set to play out as a battle royale in Dublin 4 on Saturday afternoon (live on RTÉ2, RTÉ player and RTÉ Radio 1).

The prize for the winners will be a heavy favourites tag to go on and win the championship, with Grand Slam talk not far behind.

After two landmark away wins in New Zealand and autumn success against South Africa and Australia, Andy Farrell knows that a victory over this star-studded and highly ambitious team, would make another statement in a World Cup year. The teams are also on the same side of the draw.

Ireland have beaten France nine times in Six Nations history and considering they’ve drawn twice and lost 12 in their 23 meetings since 2000, it’s not a poor return.

But a quick look at the years that Ireland scored their victories also tells a tale.

Over the nine wins, none came in a year in which France won the tournament and in only one year (2000) they finished second.

There were three seasons when Irish eyes were smiling in which France finished third in the table, while the rest occurred in seasons where Les Bleus finished fourth or fifth.

Only once, in 2003, did France come into the tournament as defending champions.

That’s to say that, for the most part, Ireland wins came against French side not operating at the top of their game.

Meanwhile, in the five seasons prior to 2022 that France won the title, they handed out handsome defeats to the Irish with the aggregate tale of the tape reading 175-80.

While the current World Rugby rankings have Ireland ahead on points, most observers, citing evidence from last season’s Grand Slam campaign, which included a 30-24 win over Ireland, claim that