France have spent the last week and a half bunkered in their Marcoussis training base on the outskirts of Paris, where Fabien Galthie has happily allowed his players to train in numbered bibs in front of the onlooking media. That’s nothing unusual for France, and although it means their team to play Ireland tomorrow night was flagged from a long way out, they are so comfortable in their own skin, Galthie is not bothered that it gave Andy Farrell a head start on his planning.

Source: Irish Independent February 04, 2026 05:56 UTC