BRENDAN GALLAGHER sets the scene for Ireland’s must-win match against France next weekend

Round three is usually the tipping point in most Six Nations and that will certainly be the case in Dublin on Saturday when both Ireland and France enter the fray with a 1-1 record. Whoever wins will still be live Championship contenders with all to play for but the losers will instantly be reduced to scrapping for so-called mid-table respectability.
Given that Irish pints are usually half full it’s still possible to make a very strong case for Ireland winning the Championship....