This weekend France face the 2009 Grand Slam champions on home ground. Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll has already made history by leading his team to a Grand Slam and has set his sights on back-to-back success - the only real proof that your team is the best, having stamped your authority home and away.

And if there is one Irishman who knows what it takes to win in Paris-Saint Denis, it is BOD. He has already scored 8 tries in 10 games against France, which is his best haul against any international side. Ten years ago the wider rugby world discovered a 21-year-old centre who managed to ridicule the French defence single-handed on his way to a hat-trick of tries.

On that famous day Ireland won 27-25 to register only its fourth victory on French soil since the Second World War (1948, 1952, 1972 and 2000). So, if you just look at the stats then it seems logical that France should win. But as we know, stats don't say everything: both in 2006 and 2008, after a bad start, Ireland fought back and pushed the French all the way. Ireland are destined to taste success in Paris again one day and no one is more likely to inspire that success than O'Driscoll. I was in the Stade de France in 2000, with my son. And I remember very well that in order to comfort him after the French defeat, I told him that he had witnessed the birth of a star. How right was I (yes, it does happen once every 10 years).

Before, Irish players were either fast, talented, powerful or fierce. Great Irish players could boast two of these qualities, legends maybe three - but Brian O'Driscoll has them all. This is why he is very much appreciated by French fans (and not just for a shared "love" of English rugby). But we don't like him enough to accept defeat in Paris on Saturday. The ideal scenario would in fact see him score a try but see France win. An ideal scenario is a nice way to say "this is what we would like to happen but we know it won't happen". France and Ireland have the same overall strengths: a strong pack, fast and powerful backs and the ability to do something "unexpected". What is not good news for France, is that on top of that, the Irish players are more experienced and have a master kicker, Ronan O'Gara.

If France are still able to win on Saturday, it will be a huge boost for the young French players and it will also prove that French coach Marc Lièvremont was right when stating his team can win without a world class kicker. But that means France must be able to produce many tries - not likely going by their opening game against Scotland.

Jean Palfrey