Cian Healy is Ireland’s only injury concern ahead of next week’s showdown with France in Paris.

An IRFU statement read: “Cian took a knock to his ankle scoring his try. In an effort to expedite his recovery and limit swelling he was put in a boot overnight and is already recovering well.”

Johnny Sexton, who went into the Italy game with a strapped thumb, suffered no ill effects during the 46-7 win.  

Meanwhile, scrum-half Eoin Reddan knows that yesterday's amazing home send-off for Brian O'Driscoll won't be as fondly recalled if Ireland fail to beat France. 

"The players have to pay their respects in terms of delivering in Paris for him"

"This win over Italy won't mean much if we don't back it up next week," said Reddan.

"We already spoke about that in the dressing room after the game.

"It was a great occasion, but the players have to pay their respects in terms of delivering in Paris for him.

"It was right to have it: these moments can pass you by if you don't emphasise them.

"Now we as players have to deliver, and give him a pat on the back in a different way, and produce a huge performance in France to give him a proper and well-deserved send-off.

"The temptations are there for people outside the group to go over the top on a polished performance, but there's no way we're seeing ourselves as favourites over there."

Leinster prop Jack McGrath was just ten years old when O'Driscoll ran in that breathless Paris hat-trick.

The 24-year-old front-rower admitted he had never seen anything like the adulation of O'Driscoll's great Dublin farewell against Italy.

"I watched that hat-trick game at home on the TV," said McGrath.

"There's a lot of hard work that went into becoming his team-mate.

"If you dwell on it too much it passes you by, but you have to step back and you have to enjoy the times as well.

"This is a time I'll remember for the rest of my life, to be involved in it is brilliant, and it's a pleasure to have been involved in a day like today.

"I don't think there has ever been anything like this in Irish sport, so it's definitely something to remember and something that will go down in history."