Ireland seek revenge for Henry’s handball goal

France v Ireland. The snow has been falling in Paris this week but the only thing in the air as far as the Irish are concerned is revenge. Ireland arrive in the French capital looking to take another step towards back-to-back Grand Slams, while also striking a blow for their footballing brethren.
 
It was back in November that Thierry Henry's now infamous 'main de Dieu' ended Ireland's dream of qualifying for this summer's World Cup football finals in South Africa. The goal that Henry handed to teammate William Gallas sparked outrage around the world and in Ireland the anger still lingers. "I suppose victory would be all the sweeter given what happened in the football," said wing Keith Earls, when asked about the incident this week. "If we won by cheating, it would be payback," added the 22-year-old, articulating the thoughts of millions of his compatriots.
 
Earls replaces Andrew Trimble in the starting line for Saturday's contest, a match that will test the reigning Six Nations champions to their limit. Ireland have won only twice in Paris in the last 50 years, and their most recent victory was a stunning 27-25 victory in 2000, a result that included a hat-trick of tries from centre Brian O'Driscoll.

O'Driscoll is one of only three Ireland survivors from that momentous day (prop John Hayes and fly-half Ronan O'Gara being the other two), and his duel in the centre with Mathieu Bastareaud is sure to be crucial to Ireland's chances of repeating the success.

Running at full tilt, the 21-year-old Bastareaud is a frightening sight. He's not that tall – 5ft 10in – but at 18-stone his centre of gravity is somewhere down near his bootlaces. Try and tackle him high and opponents end up like the Scots at Murrayfield – on their backside.

Bastareaud's two tries in the 18-9 defeat of Scotland last Sunday were proof of his rehabilitation following the controversy that engulfed the young Frenchman in New Zealand during France's summer 2009 tour when he falsely claimed to have been mugged by a group of Kiwis while returning to the team hotel. It turned out the only person who'd mugged him had been himself, after he'd drunk too much and fallen against a coffee table.

But for all Bastareaud's raw potential he is still a work in progress, which is not something that could be said of O'Driscoll, who'll be making his 98th appearance in an Ireland shirt tomorrow.

O'Driscoll has been the greatest centre of the last decade, a man whose physical gifts are matched by his wonderful reading of the game. He and O'Gara are sure to have spent much of the past week cooking up various strategies to exploit the defensive weaknesses of Bastareaud. Expect to see O'Gara chip the ball over the head of the hulking Frenchman time and again, making him turn, and allowing O'Driscoll to put the youngster under pressure.

Bastareaud, the cousin of William Gallas, appreciates what he's up against, saying of  O'Driscoll this week: "It will be a great honour to play against such a guy. If not the best, he is one of the best outside centres in the world. Few people can win a rugby game single-handed but he can."

Wales v Scotland. The Scots travel to Cardiff hoping to get their campaign back on track after last week's reverse to France, and they're up against a Welsh team seeking some redemption of their own after losing 30-17 to England. Matches between the two nations have a tradition of producing free-flowing rugby, but 24 hours before kick-off the only thing flowing are sharp words between Scotland coach Andy Robinson and Wales' supremo Warren Gatland.

Robinson raised a ruckus when he heard Wales intended to close the roof on the Millennium Stadium for the duration of the match, saying: "I think it's an advantage to Wales playing with the roof closed." Robinson delved into the rule book and was delighted by what he read: "The rules state that if we want to have the roof open then we can have that," he explained. "They're used to closing the roof in front of their home support. But we're used to playing not under those conditions."

Gatland hit a roof of his own when told of Robinson's objections, complaining: "The weather this weekend is supposed to be cold with possible snow. I don't understand why you wouldn't use the roof... we all have a responsibility to the game and the public. So if you have a roof, let's close it and see some positive rugby."

Italy v England. The weather won't be a problem for England in Rome on Sunday as they look to build on their opening win against Wales with victory against the struggling Italians. It's forecast to be sunny and spring-like in the Italian capital, and the mood in the England camp is said to be just as relaxed despite a mystery bug doing the rounds earlier in the week.

Captain Steve Borthwick was one of those laid low by the virus but he's back on his feet, as is Riki Flutey, who missed the Wales win with a dead leg. He replaces Toby Flood in the centre and the only other change is in the front-row, where 22-year Leicester tighthead prop Dan Cole comes in for his first full start at the expense of David Wilson. ·