It’s a sign of just how long it is since we won in Paris that Paul O’Connell wasn’t in the team. The Munster man would like to get a win in the French capital before he retires.
We all remember the last time Ireland beat France in Paris. Brian O’Driscoll’s hat-trick back in 2000 is still burned on the brain of all Irish rugby fans.
Of the lads who will tog out on Sunday for Ireland, only Ronan O’Gara was involved that day 12 years ago and for a player like Paul O’Connell, never managing to get a win in Paris clearly rankles.
“Yeah, it would be a box you’d love to tick,” he said on the IRFU website today. “It is a really hard place to come and win.
“France in Paris are a different creature really. They’re an incredibly tough side and they seem to save their best rugby for here – particularly their best counter-attacking rugby.
“I’ve had enough goes at it, at trying to beat them over here, and it’s always been a struggle. It’s something I’d love to do.”
Saying it and doing are too different things though but O’Connell, who will win his 85th cap tomorrow, knows what Ireland will have to do.
“I think the big thing is that they can hurt you so much over here off turnover ball,” said the 32-year-old captain.
“You saw it last week with Scotland and given half a chance they’re very dangerous. So I suppose the thing is to not give them half a chance or give them as few half chances as you can.
“That is what’s hurt us in the past here. It is a little bit to do with being accurate when we have the ball and retaining the ball no matter where we are on the pitch.
“That’s going to be a big part of tomorrow – ball retention. And when we do give it back to them, give it back to them on our own terms.”
Ah, it all sounds so simple when Paulie says it. Still, if he gives one of his ‘fear of God’ speeches and reminds the other 14 lads he doesn’t want to retire without a win in Paris, it might just do the trick.
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