France and Ireland in fight for ‘wooden spoon’
Les Bleus coach Saint-Andre admits he would settle for no tries scored if it meant his struggling team could have a Six Nations win
France hope to ease fears of a first "wooden spoon" since 1957 with their first victory of the Six Nations today against an Ireland side who are also in danger of ending up with the unwanted "prize".
Defeats by Italy in Rome, at home to a Wales side that had lost their previous eight tests and England at Twickenham have even had some hankering after the roller-coaster ride that was previous coach Marc Lievremont's hallmark.
Saint-Andre, whose side have made the worst start to the tournament since their 1982 predecessors also lost three on the bounce, will not want to come away from Dublin needing to beat a revitalised Scotland in Paris on Saturday week.
He is facing a fellow coach whose position is also under some scrutiny in Declan Kidney, the high of the 2009 grand glam, the last time the hosts beat France and their only victory over them in the past 13 meetings since 2003, long faded.
Saint-Andre said he did not care if they failed to score tries so long as the score was in their favour.
"The French team's role is to win and win well but in our situation, we'd take a 3-0 victory," he said.