It was one of the greatest upsets of the RBS 6 Nations Championship as the favourites were sent tumbling from their perch by a superior Scotland outfit.

But Bernard Laporte's side are a different proposition on home soil, where their pack will not be bullied in the same manner and where Ireland have not won since 2000.

Ireland have memories of their own disappointing championship opener to dispel, however, with the 26-16 victory over Italy bringing them back down to earth with a bump.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan expects it to be a more open game than Italy and this will suit the Irish backline, which is the match of the French threequarters.

Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy could gain a foothold in midfield, where Les Bleus are missing the masterful Yannick Jauzion - provided they show more composure than last weekend.

Ireland will secure their own line-out ball and may steal a few as well, but elsewhere France should have the edge in the forward exchanges, where the superiority of their tight five will tell.

It will take something special to stop the Irish from slipping to a fourth straight defeat by France, but O'Driscoll's stunning hat-trick in the 2000 fixture is evidence they have the players to triumph in Paris.