Opportunity knocks.
Ireland come up against a France team today who have made no bones about targetting next year's World Cup, which will be held in the country over September and October.
In the good old days that yielded three championships and a Grand Slam under Joe Schmidt, looking too far down the line wasn’t the done thing.
That has changed noticeably since Andy Farrell took over with the head coach and his charges often volunteering unsolicited comments about the bigger picture and the need to develop with 2023 in mind.
That’s why the injury enforced absence today of Ireland’s talisman Johnny Sexton is being hailed by many as a blessing in disguise.
"If you lose someone like Johnny Sexton, with the form he's in, of course he'll be a loss," said Racing 92 attack coach Mike Prendergast.
"[But] these scenarios are going to present themselves, potentially in a World Cup and important games."
Injury hasn’t helped his cause but the fact that it has taken Joey Carbery five years to make his Guinness Six Nations starting debut was a stat that was primed to come back and kick Ireland in the ass sooner rather than later.
The mild hamstring strain that has ruled Sexton out has forced the hand of Farrell but he needed to pass the deputy the reins in this campaign.
Competitive fixtures, notwithstanding the nature of the three Tests in New Zealand this summer, are running out with, starting today, just nine Six Nations games left before Ireland kick off their Pool B schedule on 9 September next year in Bordeaux.
"It’s a great development for us as a team going forward as well and we still expect ourselves to be at our best in Paris," said Farrell.
As mentioned, Carbery’s trajectory hasn’t been helped by a series of injuries but his switch from Leinster to Munster in 2018 was supposed to be the catalyst to at least start the succession plan.
Sexton, thankfully, refused to bow out or down to Father Time, as David Humphreys and Ronan O’Gara did before him.
The move to Red from Blue for Carbery showed his ambition and now he needs to show his capabilities on the field.
There’ll hardly be a sterner test for the 26-year-old and it should be his goal to play so well on his 29th cap that Farrell cannot drop him for Italy in two weeks’ time.
"Em, I suppose in this environment it’s so competitive anyway," was the New Zealand-born player’s response when asked about keeping the shirt.
"In training everyone is trying to put their hand up so all I can do is go out and put my best foot forward and see where it goes from there."
Not exactly brimming with the confidence and natural assuredness that top-class competitors have but it’s how he performs on the pitch that will matter.
Ireland, who moved to third in the world rankings after last weekend's 29-7 win over Wales, are on a run of nine consecutive Test victories with all but two coming at home.
France, meanwhile, are fifth in the world and aiming to make it the third Six Nations in a row that they have won their opening two games.
Much will depend on how the forward battle plays out and that’s as much a game of intelligence as bulk.
The French forwards’ counter-rucking in last Sunday’s 37-10 win over Italy at Stade de France was vicious.
Winning ball in that manner is actually worth more than the possession itself, such is the psychological boost it gives a side.
Farrell told RTÉ Sport: "It’s obviously a very strong tactic of theirs and Shaun [Edwards, defence coach] has made that a big part of their game and he’s been open about that over the last few years, pressure at the breakdown.
"If you’re not sharp in how you enter your own attacking breakdown then they’re very sharp in being able to get straight through that ruck and you’re right, it stops momentum.
"But if you get it right as far as attacking breakdown is concerned, hopefully to open up some opportunities for us as well."
Ireland’s ability to move the ball away from that area, with most rucks last week less than three seconds, will be key.
Such is the form of scrum-half Antoine Dupont that it’s more about limiting his ability to influence the game by keeping the ball than stopping him completely.
The last time the sides met at this venue, in October 2020, the Toulouse half-back scored a try and set up another as Ireland’s title hopes died a slow death.
His assist last week against Wales made him the country’s top try-provider in the history of the tournament (12).
James Ryan is the man charged with handling the captaincy and he’s another man who, after a frustrating season with injury in 2020/21 has rediscovered his best form.
The 25-year-old lock might cede attention to his effervescent back row colleagues and his ball-thieving second-row partner Tadhg Beirne, but they all look so good because of the shifts he puts in.
The Leinster man is on record as saying he's not really the type for shouting and roaring, and the job of getting the team to the right pitch today will be shared out, said scrum coach John Fogarty; that includes a role for the non-playing captain.
"Johnny will have a presence but as far as a gee-up... us being able to stay calm and clear in our minds, almost to take some of the emotion out of it [is key]," he said.
"The focus will be for us to be nice and calm so we can see things in front of us.
"There's usually a quiet few words and a focus on understanding our game plan, understanding the challenges, and trying to gain a sense of calm before we get on the bus to the stadium.
"That's sort of the theme we've tried to develop through Faz over the last two years, trying to develop that calmness of mind so we can play the game in front of us.
"Without a doubt, you're away from home, there's going to be excitement and levels of emotion. They're going to be there for all to see, but the focus is on calmness."
Sexton is the only change to the Ireland line-up with Iain Henderson and Robbie Henshaw returning from injury to take their places on the bench ahead of Ryan Baird and James Hume.
Galthie makes two changes with one enforced.
Yoran Moefana replaces the injured Jonathan Danty in the centre and Francois Cros comes in for Dylan Cretin at wing forward.
Cros’ inclusion, alongside Anthony Jelonch and Gregory Alldritt means the hosts’ back-row is the same that helped them to a 45-20 win over New Zealand last November.
"They are the number one team in Europe and third in the world so they are the best opponent that we could face and come here, like us, aiming to win," said Galthie of Ireland who lost last year's clash 15-13 at the Aviva in a game that Sexton also missed through injury.
"Our objective is to live the most intense emotion with our supporters, to surpass ourselves. We want to play a match at that level."
This is as tough as task as this Irish team has faced away from home and a stadium full of French supporters singing La Marseillaise added to the sheer quality and drive of Les Bleus might just make it a bridge too far but the nature of the battle will stand to them.
Verdict: France
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan (capt); Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Jack Carty, Robbie Henshaw.
France: Melvyn Jaminet; Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Gabin Villiere; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (capt); Cyril Baille, Julian Marchand, Uini Atonio; Cameron Woki, Paul Willemse; Francois Cros, Anthony Jelonch, Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Jean Baptiste Gros, Demba Bamba, Romain Taofifenua, Thibaut Flament, Dylan Cretin, Maxime Lucu, Thomas Ramos.
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referee 1: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
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