We'll show the French who's boss

Brian O'Driscoll has ample reason to appreciate the technical and tactical changes behind Ireland's conversion to the expansive school of total rugby.

But the centre with the magic touch is quick to identify transformation in a less obvious area - between the ears - as the real secret to Irish success. O'Driscoll, who scored a remarkable hat-trick of tries in last season's victory over France in Paris, is poised to inflict more pain on the French at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

And the Blackrock College boy, who missed the opening Six Nations victory over Italy with a shoulder injury, testifies that the Irish tendency of just hoping for the best has been swept away.

'We've managed to get rid of our inferiority complex,' said O'Driscoll, just turned 22. 'We're going into this game extremely hopeful of winning it. 'It's not a case of sticking with them for a while, it's about showing them who's boss. 'Last year, after we beat the French, there was a lot of talk among the boys about the attitude in previous years.

'It seems that teams had been getting on the plane just with damage limitation in their heads, rather than victory. 'Last year quashed that completely and our confidence builds with winning. Just go back to the example set by Munster in the European Cup - they're getting into a habit of winning.' Last year's victory aside, the Irish have few historical reasons to feel confident about facing a team who, until that upset in Paris, had not lost to the boys in green since 1983. None of that is likely to bother head coach Warren Gatland, who has imbued his team with such elan that Gaelic flair will probably eclipse its Gallic equivalent on Saturday. O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara and Denis Hickie are all potential game-breakers, selected because of their ability to bedazzle and befuddle opponents. It is a role they fill all too willingly.

'How much do I like playing in this kind of a back line? A lot,' was how O'Driscoll summed it up. 'It's why I play rugby. I don't play it to chase garryowens, though that's part of the game. 'I play it to get the ball in hand, throw it around and create excitement for the crowd, those playing with you and the rugby public in general.