PREVIEW-Rugby-Ireland face acid test as France come calling

Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:01am GMT

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By Mitch Phillips

LONDON Feb 10 (Reuters) - Though they both began the Six Nations championship with a win, Ireland and France go into Sunday's Dublin clash (1500 GMT) in very different moods and with more than just another two championship points at stake.

France shook off the painful memories of their November thrashing by Australia by turning on the style to beat Scotland 34-21 in their Paris opener and hand out a timely warning that they are not going to give up their title easily.

In contrast, Ireland needed a last-gasp drop goal by Ronan O'Gara to avoid a first defeat by Italy as they scraped home 13-11 in Rome.

Italy are likely to rue that missed opportunity for a long time as the chances of them derailing England at Twickenham on Saturday (1430) look slim.

England got off to an impressive start with their 26-19 win in Cardiff and should chalk up a second win on Saturday to set up a potential championship decider against France on Feb. 26.

Wales travel to Edinburgh on Saturday (1700) hoping to avoid a ninth game without a win but will find it tough going against a Scottish side buoyed up by their efforts in Paris.

It is in Dublin though that the big questions will be answered, at least on Ireland's side.

The talking point through their November internationals and going into this competition was whether there was another year in the bulk of the team that had brought so much glory in the Heineken Cup and Six Nations in recent years. Continued...

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