Ireland hope to avoid Paris defeat

Published Thursday, 09 February 2012
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Ireland rugby prop Mike Ross says his team cannot afford to under-perform for a second successive weekend when they meet France on Saturday night.

Ireland hope to avoid Paris defeat
Vincent Clerc of France scores their first try during the international friendly between France and Ireland at Stade Chaban-Delmas (© UTV)

The Irish head to Paris, where they have prevailed just once since 1972, needing victory to rescue an RBS 6 Nations campaign that is in danger of unraveling after only two rounds.

Coach Declan Kidney is expected to name his team on Thursday knowing defeat to Les Bleus would see the scrutiny of his stewardship intensify.

And Ross insists the players understand their role in the drive to atone for Sunday's 23-21 home loss against Wales.

"We're pretty disappointed with the way the game against Wales turned out," the Leinster tighthead prop said.

"We've resolved this week to put right a lot of the things that went wrong. We need to step up and start delivering.

"Losing the way we did was hard to take, but in rugby you can't dwell upon previous failures for too long because the next game arrives so quickly.

"We have an opportunity to rectify what went wrong and that's something we're keen to do.

"Paris can be bit of a bear-pit and we can't afford to be off our game or we'll face a hiding," he said.

Stephen Ferris will travel to the Stade de France after being cleared of tip-tackling Wales lock Ian Evans.

Ferris faced a hearing in London on Wednesday after being cited for the challenge on Evans in the final minute at the Aviva Stadium.

Following analysis of the video evidence and consideration of the explanation for the tackle, the three-man independent Six Nations disciplinary committee chose not to uphold the citing.

Ferris reacted to the decision on Twitter, saying: "Thank goodness that is all over. Happy man."

© UTV News
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MICHAEL LAW
This past weekend was a massive one in both rugby and in football as both Leinster and Chelsea became European Champions.
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