Intro:

France will be looking to prevent Ireland from giving Brian O'Driscoll the perfect send off when they meet Joe Schmidt's side in Paris. A win for the Irish would almost guarantee them the Six Nations title, barring a massive English victory in Rome over Italy. The match will also see O'Driscoll make his 141st and final Test appearance.

Script:

A win for Ireland in Paris on Saturday would be the perfect end to Brian O'Driscoll's international career - and bring him fist Six Nations title since 2009.

But trying telling that to Philippe Saint-Andre's French squad, who are vying to keep their own slim chances of stealing the Six Nations title alive.

Although France are tied on six points with Ireland and England going into the final round of matches, Saint-Andre's squad have received a lot of criticism for some of their displays.

A narrow win over Scotland last time out, did little to tame the negativity surrounding a team that also went down to a 27-6 defeat against Wales.

Saint-Andre has recalled Louis Picamoles to his starting XV to face Ireland, while Dimitri Szarzewski, Remi Tales and Gael Fickou are also set for starts.

France will be able to draw confidence from their formidable record against the Irish in Paris, which has seen them defeated just once in the capital since 1972.

That loss came in 2001 when Brian O'Driscoll announced himself on the international stage with a hat trick for Ireland.

How O'Driscoll would love a repeat of that performance and result this weekend.