Image source, Getty Images

Brice Dulin claims Conor Murray's steepling box-kick under pressure from a mob of green shirts led by Tommy Bowe. 

France recycle and spin into midfield. Some muffed handling. It has gone forward off a Irish hand first. 

Scrum down blue.

Irish golfer and 2016 Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke is cheering on the boys in green.

Denis Hickie
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Opta

Image source, Reuters

Is Freddie Michalak going to have one of his off days?

The maverick French fly-half (is there any other sort?) screws his kick wide off the tee.

It was not a gimme, but very makeable.

Ireland with the ball just outside their 22m. Good running from Keith Earls as they spread wide.

But that has just given Thierry Dusautoir a target. The French skipper gets to the breakdown first and forces a penalty from referee Nigel Owens.

Image source, Getty Images

It looks like Pascal Pape might have been on the end of a bit of rough stuff from Sean O'Brien.

The France second row took Jamie Heaslip out with a knee to the back in their Six Nations meeting earlier this year and it looks like karma has been delivered.

Denis Hickie
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Ireland are in at the side of the ruck. Their momentum piddles away with a France penalty. 

But the stoppage in play gives Pascal Pape a chance to get treatment. The second row is up. He wanders gingerly to the sidelines. He might not make it through the 80. 

Ireland with the first turnover of the match as Peter O'Mahony pounces on the loose ball.

They have possession and a numerical advantage. France hardman Pascal Pape is laid out injured after a blow to the ribs.

Image source, Getty Images

We are under way. Freddie Michalak boots up to the Ireland 22m line where full-back Rob Kearney gathers safely.

Image source, Getty Images

First up is the Marseillaise. A top selection from the anthems jukebox from the French.

But, as the crowd stand shoulder-to-shoulder to answer Ireland's Call, there is no doubt who ranks higher on the decibel meter.

A corner of Cardiff is emerald for the next 80 minutes. 

The two teams line up opposite each other in the Millennium Stadium corridors.

Thierry Dusautoir and Paul O'Connell staring each other out from six feet apart.

Finally a stage hand gives them the nod and the two teams troop out into the Cardiff cauldron.

Lid on. Game on.

Image source, Getty Images

Previous Ireland teams at World Cups have found France too hot to handle. Thierry Lacroix’s 26 points helped the French wallop Ireland 36-12 in the 1995 quarter-finals and Keith Wood’s international career ended in tears eight years later as Bernard Laporte’s side won 43-21 at the last-eight stage. A certain Frederic Michalak scored 23 points that day. In 2007, Michalak starred again as France’s 25-3 victory contributed to Ireland’s dismal pool stages exit. Eight years on, the sides meet with Ireland having won the last two Six Nations, in part thanks to two victories over the French. But this is the World Cup and not the spring when the ravages of the Top 14, their domestic league, saps French strength.    

John Haughey
BBC Sport at the Millennium Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre opts for two changes from the win over Canada with classy number eight Louis Picamoles and wing Noa Nakaitaci in for Bernard Le Roux and Remy Grosso.

France: Spedding; Nakaitaci, Bastareaud, Fofana, Dulini; Michalak, Tillous-Borde; Ben Arous, Guirado, Slimani; Pape, Maestri; Dusautoir (capt), Chouly, Picamoles. 

Replacements: B Kaysir, V Debaty, N Mas, A Flanquart, B Le Roux, M Parra, R Tales, A Dumoulin.

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has made three changes from the scratchy win over Italy last weekend with the big call his surprise demotion of Iain Henderson to the bench.

Devin Toner, all 6ft 11in, is in for his “line-out capability” has earned him the nod over Henderson, who has probably been Ireland’s most impressive performer at the tournament.

Rob Kearney slots back in at full-back in place of Simon Zebo, who drops out of the match-day squad entirely, while Cian Healy replaces Jack McGrath.

Ireland: R Kearney; Bowe, Earls, Henshaw, D Kearney; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Ross; Toner, O’Connell (capt); O’Mahony, O’Brien, Heaslip. 

Replacements: Strauss, McGrath, White, Henderson, Henry, Reddan, Madigan, Fitzgerald.

Right, let's get down to the serious business of team news.

Our man on the ground John Haughey has the teams hot of the press. 

Well, warmish. They were announced 48 hours ago.