Johnny Sexton doing his best to warm-up in the conditions earlier this afternoon...

Image source, Inpho

But the sleet has faded and the blue skies have now returned...

I wonder whether it will change again during the game?

Image source, Inpho

Wales' victory in Edinburgh yesterday saw them maintain their Grand Slam charge, while England's thrashing of Italy saw Eddie Jones' men remain in second.

A bonus-point Ireland win this afternoon will see them move to within a point of England in third.

That would take it into the final weekend where an English defeat to Scotland and an Irish win in Cardiff could see Ireland become the first team to successfully defend the title since 2015.

Image source, BBC Sport

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt told ITV: "Rob’s [Kearney] calf tightened up yesterday and we just felt it wasn’t a risk we had to take.

"With the gap weeks in the Six Nations, some of them haven’t payed together for four weeks so we have tried to create some areas in training to help give us some patterns."

On Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton's form: "There are some other people who help run the team but they are the hub, and most things run through them with the positions they play. They have both had interrupted game time so it has been difficult for them."

On his final Six Nations home game in charge: "The last six years have gone really quick but it has been a heck of a ride."

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Remember, as well as reading our live text coverage, you can listen to full audio commentary of today's match over on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra (14:50 GMT).

The front page of today's match day program features a determined Rob Kearney with ball in hand.

In case you missed our earlier entry, Kearney has dropped out of the team with injury, and is replaced by Jordan Larmour at full-back.

Cian Murtagh
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

It is bitingly cold in Dublin. The day began with a flurry of snow and a brief spell of clear skies has just been interrupted by a sudden, swirling blizzard that is surfing a strong westerly wind. It is considerably cooler than the six degrees forecast and should make it distinctly difficult for the kickers.

Ireland’s aerial game has been highlighted by Jacques Brunel as a key battleground today but Rob Kearney’s late withdrawal from the Ireland team could change that dynamic. The veteran full-back, so normally assured under the high ball, was below his best in Rome but in his absence the free-running Larmour offers a very different threat that France will have to consider.

Simon Gleave
Head of sports analysis, Gracenote

Could it be a day of farewells?

As well as being head coach Joe Scmidt's final Six Nations home game in charge, Ireland captain Rory Best says he could also be running out for a final time in Dublin.

Best has had a glittering career, in which he has won two Grand Slams.

It's been a recurring theme during this year's tournament.

Johnny Sexton has been on the receiving end of some physical treatment during this year's tournament as Ireland have misfired.

But French captain Guilhelm Guirado says his side must do a lot more than merely aim to disrupt fly-half Sexton.

"Johnny is very important for their organisation but there are a lot of very good players around him," he said.

You can read the full story here.

Image source, Inpho

History definitely favours Ireland in this fixture.

Today's hosts have lost just one of the last eight meetings (W5, D2), although they are nearly always tight affairs as nine of the last 11 meetings have been settled by a single-figure margin.

It all points to a full-bloodied Test match this afternoon then.

Image source, Reuters

We have had a late change to the line-ups...

Ireland's Rob Kearney has suffered a late injury and is replaced at full-back by Jordan Larmour. Andrew Conway is named on the bench.

Ireland: Larmour, Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best (c), Furlong, Henderson, Ryan, O'Mahony, van der Flier, Stander.

Replacements: Scannell, Kilcoyne, Ryan, Dillane, Conan, Cooney, Carty, Conway

France: Ramos, Penaud, Bastareaud, Fickou, Huget; Ntamack, Dupont; Poirot, Guirado (c), Bamba, Vahaamahina, Lambey, Lauret, Iturria, Picamoles.

Replacements: Chat, Falgoux, Aldegheri, Willemse, Alldritt, Serin, Belleau, Medard.

Image source, Getty Images

Wales maintained their Grand Slam charge in Edinburgh...

Image source, PA

England crushed Italy to remain in the race for the championship...

Image source, PA

Can Ireland respond against France this afternoon and give themselves an outside chance of defending their title?

Image source, PA

We'll have all of the build-up and live text commentary from the final game of the penultimate weekend.

Kick off in Dublin is just an hour away (15:00 GMT).