French look to kill off Irish

Coach Marc Lievremont and captain Thierry Dusautoir have appealed to the French to find their killer touch - and if they do so today it will spell the end of Irish hopes of repeating the Six Nations Grand Slam.

The Irish will be spurred on not only by keeping alive their quest for successive Grand Slams - they would be only the sixth team to do it in over 100 years of the tournament - but also by the extra spice of beating the French on the same ground where Thierry Henry's handball ensured their soccer compatriots would not be going to the World Cup finals this summer.

For the French, they have the incentive of staying on course for their first Grand Slam and first title since Lievremont took over from Bernard Laporte after the 2007 World Cup finals.

Dusautoir, known as the 'dark destroyer', had called before the tournament started for his team-mates to show a more clinical edge to their game however Lievremont was having to repeat that plea after the French failed to press home their superiority against the Scots last weekend.

Having led 15-9 at half-time they ran out only 18-9 winners, spurning several chances to put themselves out of sight.

"I believe we were in their (the Scots) half for 60-65 per cent of the match, and had 55 per cent possession," said the 41-year-old former Dax coach.

"We failed to kill the match. It is imperative that we do better, especially as Ireland have more weapons than the Scots."

Lievremont especially highlighted three players who could turn the match if they are given any freedom.

"We know that with the left foot of (Rob) Kearney, (Ronan) O'Gara's vision in directing play and similarly (Brian) O'Driscoll's, not to mention their superb scrum, they will pose us many problems," said Lievremont.

Nevertheless it is 10 years since the Irish seemingly laid a bogey to rest when they beat France in Paris for the first time in 28 years (27-25).

Playing today: 15.00 Wales vs Scotland; 17.30 France vs Ireland.

Tomorrow: 15.30 Italy vs England.