'We think we're fitter' - Lowe backing Ireland to play France on own terms

James Lowe says Ireland have to back their skill and fitness when they welcome France to the Aviva Stadium in Round 2 of the Guinness Six Nations this Saturday (live on RTÉ2, RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ Player).

It's four years since Ireland last beat France, with Fabien Galthie's side coming out on top in all three of their meetings during this World Cup cycle.

In the immediate aftermatch of Saturday's win against Wales, head coach Andy Farrell asked for his side to stay true to themselves against Les Bleus, who have sucked Ireland into an arm-wrestle at times in their previous meetings, using their superior size to their advantage.

And Lowe says they know they're capable of beating the defending champions if they play the game at their own pace.

"It's imposing a game that we know we can play," he said, of how Ireland can "stay true to themselves".

"It's tight shapes, it's at the line, it's being combative and physical.

"It's very, very easy to say all that, and then you go to France and get walloped in the first few contacts, and you start second guessing yourself. But that's going to happen. It happens in a game where you're going to lose a few battles and have to play a bit smarter.

"But at the end of the day we know we've got a shape that can break down most teams if we get our own stuff right.

"The French are physical, I think it would be silly to say they're not bigger than us. We think we're fitter. If we can get around them, work around into holes and hopefully get a couple of weak shoulders and stay on top of them, it sounds very easy to do but obviously teams struggle to do it. We're just going to go out and play our rugby and see how we go."

For the first time ever, the world's top two ranked sides will meet in the Six