Six Nations Championship France v Ireland: In French rugby they joke that "England have Twickenham, and we have Marcoussis", a somewhat self-deprecating comparison between the money-making citadel for the English team and the expensive, ultra-modern training facility which the French Federation completed in the autumn of 2002 at a cost of €43.6 million.
The purpose-built complex, le Centre National du Rugby, is located in Department Essone, 40 minutes to the south of Paris from the city centre, and boasts a four-star hotel with 35 rooms and six training pitches.
On foot of a previous reconnaissance mission to the NCR by the IRFU's chief executive Philip Browne and operations director Martin Murphy last year, the union's vice-president Barry Keogh and treasurer John Lyons were invited to Marcoussis by Jacques Laurams, the chairman of the Six Nations committee as well as a director of the Rugby World Cup and a member of the International Board.
With three floodlit pitches, an artificial, indoor playing surface about two-thirds the length of a full pitch, a hydrotherapy pool, gym and restaurant, Browne admits "it is a fantastic facility," adding: "It's one of the things we are looking at which is necessary for the elite end of the game."
The CNR was heavily funded by the French government, but unless the Irish Government presses ahead with something of this ilk at Abbotstown, it's hard to see where the money will materialise from for such a facility in Ireland.
At their base in Marcoussis, the French coach Bernard Laporte and a selection of his players gave their final press conference yesterday. Their mood seemed singularly relaxed, though the talk was more of a reflection on the 2003 World Cup than Saturday's match.
Asked if this championship marked a new start for Les Bleus, Laporte said: "Yes and no. Yes it is like a new start because some of the older players are gone, like Galthie, Ibanez and Merceron, but 80 per cent of the team is the same as in the World Cup. We're proud of what we did in the World Cup.
"Before the semi-finals we scored five tries per game and in the semi-finals England beat us psychologically, not with their style of play because they never broke our defensive line. They were stronger and got momentum as the match wore on."
Fabien Pelous, the reinstated captain and a triple Grand Slam winner, captured the apparently relaxed mood when maintaining: "I don't feel any pressure, but anyway I never feel any pressure. I never see myself in that way."
With 84 caps, Pelous has decided he will seek to play until the 2007 World Cup which France will host, and he was asked if eclipsing Jason Leonard's record of 113 caps was a source of motivation.
"Actually, I feel that I could break that record but I haven't decided to keep playing because of that. I just want to be a part of the 2007 Rugby World Cup."
With comparatively less preparation time, having only come together this week, the French team are bracing themselves for an altogether stiffer challenge from Ireland than was the case in their bloodless coup at the World Cup quarter-finals.
"On that day everything went perfectly for us," admitted Frederic Michalak. "We do believe that the Irish have learned a lot from that, for they have not thrown the video away. They will be aware of certain things we did to them that day and so it could be more difficult this time."
For their part, the Irish squad arrived safe and sound yesterday, having returned to the Hotel Trionon in Versailles, about 45 minutes to the west of Paris, where they were based for the famous, Brian O'Driscoll-inspired 27-25 win four years ago as well as the unlucky 18-16 defeat two years' previously.
A plush, olde-world hotel adjacent to the Palais Versailles where Louis XIV moved the French monarchy in the 17th century, it prompted the then manager Pat Whelan to remark: "Nothing too good for the lads."
The Irish squad will move to a more central hotel in Paris tomorrow. In a break with tradition, rather than the customary escort to the stadium from the gendarmerie (military police) which the French squad will again enjoy, the Irish team coach will be escorted by La Garde Republican. Normally a horse guard, complete with helmets and swords, presumably the republic guard will provide motor bikes for this journey.
