Gerry Thornley: Mercurial French major obstacle to Irish World Cup hopes

Despite failing to defeat Ireland in four years, winning the group is not beyond Les Bleus

Toulon may be hard to like but there’s no questioning their dominance

Money talks and Mourad Boudjellal ’s millions are shouting loud for the European champions

France straining under the yoke of Saint-André’s tactical straitjacket

Inconsistent selection and brutish, forward-orientated tactics testing the patience of the French fans

Matt Williams: Australians approach the game with a different mindset

Six Nations drama largely exists outside Australian paradigm

France making timely advances

With a World Cup year coming up, it seems as if games with France are going to define the Joe Schmidt years

If Eddie O’Sullivan can turn things around at Biarritz, it’ll be quite a feather in his cap

Former Ireland coach takes over a shell of a club compared to the one which won its fourth and fifth French championships in 2005 and ‘06

Eddie O’Sullivan takes top job at Biarritz

Former Ireland coach has agreed a two year contract to preside over the recently relegated Basque club

Francois Pienaar looking forward to Ravenhill

Former Springbok World Cup winning captain in Ireland to launch One Young World Summit and take in Saracens game against Ulster

A French test that has proven difficult to pass

Grand Slam denying defeat in 1982 epitomises Ireland’s problems in Paris

Top 14 in danger of eating itself, and others

Holders Toulon lead the way as only the super rich can afford twin trophy pursuit

Former superpower Biarritz still look to Yachvili ahead of Challenge Cup clash with Leinster

“When Dimitri is fit Biarritz always play well”

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