France vs Irelands, Six Nations: Rory Best says Ireland can’t afford to get caught napping in Paris

Rory Best is hoping Ireland can secure their first back-to-back victory in Paris since 1927

(2016 Getty Images)

Ireland cannot afford to be “caught cold” again in the scrum in today’s Six Nations battle with France in Paris, according to Rory Best.

The captain has challenged Ireland’s pack to iron out the kinks that allowed Wales to dominate the early set-piece exchanges in last weekend’s 16-16 draw in Dublin.

Ireland will chase back-to-back victories in Paris for the first time since 1927 this weekend, when only a win will be enough to sustain their chances of an unprecedented third consecutive Six Nations title. Ulster hooker Best admitted that Ireland had slipped off the scrummaging pace against the Welsh, and have since been battling to redress the balance.

“From our point of view we got caught cold in the first half against Wales,” said Best. “It was a bit of a different combination in the entire front five and CJ [Stander] coming in to the back row for the first time too.

“We worked a few things out at half-time and we improved as the game went on.

“We’re under no illusions that this is going to be a sterner test again, and the big thing for us is to make sure we’ve done our work on them – but also to make sure that we keep pushing forward.

“We’ve got to make sure we don’t start this game tomorrow cold, the way we did against Wales. The first scrum tomorrow has to be slightly better than the last scrum against Wales, and so on and so forth throughout the game.”

The rookie prop Rob Evans got the better of Connacht’s Nathan White at the Aviva Stadium last weekend but Best insists Ireland can cope with France’s revamped front-row today.

The bustling duo Jefferson Poirot and Uini Atonio have been promoted to France’s starting line-up, despite both previously being viewed as impact substitutes.

That means France can call on the more experienced duo of Rabah Slimani and Eddy Ben Arous around the 50-minute mark, with their coach, Guy Novès, keen to keep his front-rowers on their toes.

Poirot and Atonio hold just 12 Test caps between them ahead of Saturday’s match, inexperience that Ireland will obviously target.

Even if France’s front-row switch caught Ireland on the hop, Best has insisted that Joe Schmidt’s side will be just as well prepared whichever personnel Les Bleus boast in the pack.

“France have got a very, very good squad, so no matter who is picked it’s a tough challenge,” said Best.

“Three changes in the front five certainly freshens things up but by no means weakens them.

“It paints a slightly different picture for us, so we need to make sure that we are geared accordingly.”