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Some great insight from Ronan O'Gara and Serge Betsen into what is making France purr under Fabien Galthie.

"They are very much in-sync with what's going on in world rugby," said O'Gara, now head coach at La Rochelle.

"Under Galthie they have a lot of coaches and people where everything is definite.

"The mentality has changed. It is unbelievable to think, when I was coaching at Racing 92, you'd hear that some guys weren't interested in going to the French camp.

"Now it's the complete opposite. They'd run the 200km from La Rochelle to get to the French camp."

Read more in this piece by Michael Morrow.

Michael Morrow
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

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It's a grey and wet Dublin day, but the howling winds that were rattling across Ireland overnight and through the morning have somewhat dissipated, although perhaps ominously they have began picking up again in the last 30 minutes.

Yellow weather warnings were in place for today but it looks like we've seen the worst of the winds - but there is still a fair breeze, so how much that becomes a factor remains to be seen.

Expect a few slips as the rain was coming down this morning with little regard for the Aviva Stadium surface - the pitch won't look as nice as it does now for much longer.

When the Six Nations Twitter account asked its followers for their thoughts on the world's best player, they probably didn't expect to get a 90-cap All Black cornerstone tweeting in reply.

But Aaron Smith was fulsome in his praise of France's box of tricks.

Anyone care to disagree?

Michael Morrow
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

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I've spent much of this week asking ex-players and coaches how best to go about stopping Antoine Dupont.

Conclusion: It is really difficult.

In his column this week, Rory Best suggested the best way Ireland can nullify France's magical scrum-half is by controlling the gain-line, slowing the visitors down at the ruck and keeping them on the back foot.

The ever-growing body of evidence shows Dupont is a major threat, and will cause mayhem if he is working with consistent front-foot ball.

Eddie Butler
BBC Sport rugby commentator

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France have tweaked their team, bringing in Damian Penaud to deal with Ireland's aerial threat to the wings, and Anthony Jelonch to add toughness to the back-row.

As for the home team, their future is suddenly their present - no Jonathan Sexton and no Conor Murray. Jamison Gibson-Park and Billy Burns still fit an Irish template that works: kick high to get close to the line and then let the forwards rumble. France have selected accordingly.

Similarly, Rhys Ruddock and Gibson-Park may be briefed to deal with a specific threat - a pair chosen to keep Antoine Dupont in check. All very intriguing.

Ireland 24 France 25

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France have made two changes to the side that hammered Italy.

Clermont wing Damian Penaud replaces Teddy Thomas and Castres' Anthony Jelonch comes in for Dylan Cretin in at blindside flanker, with Thomas and Cretin dropping to the bench.

France:15-Dulin, 14-Penaud, 13-Vincent, 12-Fickou, 11-Villiere, 10-Jalivert, 9-Dupont; 1-Baille, 2-Marchand, 3-Haouas, 4-Le Roux, 5-Willemse; 6-Jelonch, 7-Ollivon (capt), 8-Alldritt.

Replacements:6-Bourgarit, 17-Kolingar, 18-Atonio, 19-Taofifenua, 20-Cretin, 21-Serin, 22-Bouthier, 23-Thomas.

Michael Morrow
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

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What a huge day for Billy Burns.

In general it is best to avoid drawing absolute conclusions from one performance, but it is hard to emphasise quite how much his display today will dictate his perception among the Irish public.

On the backdrop of his much-discussed mistake last week, everyone is waiting to see how he will respond.

If he guides Ireland to a win over the tournament favourites, that mistake will be forgotten and people will feel a whole lot better about what comes behind Johnny Sexton.

If he does not perform well, there will be those who are quick to conclude that he is not fit to steer the ship as this level, and that Ireland's increasingly urgent hunt for an heir to Sexton's throne remains ongoing.

For Ulster, Burns is at his best when taking the ball hard to the line and enjoys spreading the play right across the width of the pitch. He also loves a cross-field kick and a dink over the top, and when he sees space on the wing, wastes no time in putting boot to ball.

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Ireland coach Andy Farrell on Gibson-Park and Burns half-back pairing: "To get to be those experienced players they have to deal with situations like this.

"That's the challenge of international rugby. If you want a long and fruitful international career, these are the games that you want to be involved in.

"We're playing at home and we love playing at home, and there's no better opponent really than the team you guys (the media) are tipping as favourites.

"Why would we not get excited about that?"

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Johnny Sexton will miss Ireland's Six Nations game against France following the head knock he sustained against Wales as Billy Burns is handed a start.

A hamstring injury also rules out Conor Murray as Jamison Gibson-Park starts.

Iain Henderson is named captain as he replaces injured James Ryan and Rhys Ruddock comes in for Peter O'Mahony.

Munster back row O'Mahony is unavailable for Sunday's home game at the Aviva Stadium after being handed a three-match ban following his first-half red card in the Cardiff defeat.

Ireland:Keenan; Earls, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Burns, Gibson-Park; Healy, Herring, Porter; Beirne, Henderson (capt); Ruddock, Van der Flier, Stander.

Replacements:Kelleher, E Byrne, Furlong, Dillane, Connors, Casey, R Byrne, Larmour.

After defeat by Wales in the wake of Peter O'Mahony's red card, Ireland need to jump-start a Six Nations campaign that could be over before the first rest week.

What they need less is France rolling into town.

Fabien Galthie's side dismantled Italy in their opening match, a performance that did nothing to damage their claims to be the northern hemisphere's form team.

After being edged out in the race for the trophy by points difference (and a Mohamed Haouas right hand), France are aiming to win the Six Nations for the first time since 2010. They are now favourites for the title on the bookies blackboards.

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Valentine's Day, but Ireland's most reliable couple are nowhere to be seen.

The last time that Ireland went into a Six Nations match with neither Conor Murray or Johnny Sexton in the starting line-up was nearly a decade ago, back in March 2011.

This afternoon though, with both Murray and Sexton out injured, it will be Jamison Gibson-Park and Billy Burns in half-back harness.

And they have dropped right into a more pressurised situation than the Mariana Trench...