Ireland will not only take a step towards back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams with victory over France at the Stade de France on Sunday, but would also break the southern hemisphere domination in the International Rugby Board's top three world rankings.
A first win on French soil since March 2000 - regardless of the margin of victory - will see Ireland take over third spot from Australia to equal their best ever position since the rankings were introduced in October 2003.
On the other hand, a sixth successive defeat at the Stade de France and Ireland will lose their mantle as the leading northern hemisphere nation in the rankings with their conquerors assuming fourth position, regardless of the winning margin.
