(2)
(4)
Follow the RBS 6 Nations on Facebook and Twitter
That record-breaking 63-10 win helped them to second in the table after two rounds, but to stay there they will have to beat an improving French side.
Les Bleus dominated much of their opening game at Twickenham before succumbing late on, and were then able to finish strongly at home to Scotland last time out.
Au cœur du #XVdeFrance ?
- FF Rugby (@FFRugby) February 23, 2017
Les tricolores viennent de partir pour Dublin. Vivez le dernier entrainement des Bleus avant le départ ?? #IRLFRA pic.twitter.com/X6Cg9YXyiI
Their game plan will revolve around a powerful forward pack and a desire to offload and keep the ball off the deck.
Ireland will hope to do the opposite, and put their visitors under pressure at the breakdown, while making the most of their own ball-carriers.
Each side has made changes from round two, Ireland welcoming back fly-half Johnny Sexton as one of five changes to the matchday squad.
Fit-again, he comes in for Paddy Jackson, who drops to the bench, while Jack McGrath starts at loosehead, swapping with Cian Healy.
On the bench Peter O'Mahony and Andrew Trimble are set to make their first appearances of the Championship while Iain Henderson also returns as second row cover.
France have made three changes to their starting line-up, with Bernard Le Roux taking the place of the injured Loann Goujon. Elsewhere Rabah Slimani gets the nod at tighthead over Uini Atonio, while Yoann Huget replaces the injured Virimi Vakatawa.
Racing 92 centre Henry Chavancy could make his debut off the bench after being included as three-quarter cover along with Djibril Camara.
Captain's Run. last run out for Ireland in @AVIVAStadium this morning. #TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/Zy7v08j6QE
- Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 24, 2017
Joe Schmidt (Ireland): "England have obviously got a little bit of a flyer on everyone else, because they're the only unbeaten team, so for ourselves, Scotland, Wales and France, there's going to be two teams that are left hanging in and two teams that are effectively out of the race for the top spot and will be scrambling for the other places."
Guy Novès (France): "We could sense that day after day the team was starting to get into the game, to be more concentrated. The training was high-quality, with good pressure, not the negative one we had against Scotland. I don't know if the players will play with freedom but I hope they will use their qualities to the maximum."
Johnny Sexton v Camille Lopez
Johnny Sexton's return gives Schmidt a general on the pitch and the Leinster fly-half will relish the chance to go up against a familiar foe. It hasn't always been plain sailing for Sexton against France, with their big ball-carriers regularly targeting the ten channel. But he will look to play for territory and pin the French back into their own half. Novès has shown consistency in selection with Camille Lopez starting at fly-half for the fourth straight game. His goal-kicking proved crucial in the victory over Scotland and he will once again be charged with pulling the strings for Les Bleus.
Stat Watch
While Ireland have lost just once in their last six encounters with France, Les Bleus actually have a winning record at the Aviva Stadium. They won each of their first two games at the ground, before drawing there in 2013. Ireland's only victory over France in the stadium came in their last encounter there - an 18-11 success two years ago.
Fantasy Watch
Click here to play the 2017 RBS 6 Nations Fantasy Game
CJ Stander scored the biggest points tally in the history of the RBS 6 Nations official fantasy game in Rome, so he's a must-have in your team, while Keith Earls has also been racking up the fantasy points.
From a French perspective, Kevin Gourdon has scored well in both rounds so far, and his offloading game could come into play.
Ireland v France
25 February
Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 16:50 (local)
TV: RTE, FR2, ITV, DMAX, BBC (H)
Click here for the complete 2017 RBS 6 Nations fixture list with TV schedule
