It seems the stars are aligning in Ireland's favour. As international rugby prepares to bid adieu to Brian O'Driscoll, those of Irish persuasion will hope the great man finishes his final Six Nations with a winner's medal.

Ireland are in the box seat. With a superior points difference of 49 over second-placed England, they know regardless of what happens in Rome, a win in Paris is likely to see them home. The form book suggests Ireland are in a good place to achieve this. Apart from their 13-10 loss to England in round three, they have recorded resounding wins over Scotland, Wales and Italy. Joe Schmidt's philosophy is painted all over this team with Ireland's game focusing on establishing a base with a solid set piece and then looking for attacking opportunities.

Team News

• France: Remi Tales starts at fly-half for France with Gael Fickou in the centres. In the pack, Louis Picamoles starts at blindside replacing Sebastien Vahaamina with Dimitri Szarzewski getting the nod at hooker.
• Ireland: Ireland recall Peter O'Mahony at blindside with Ian Madigan replacing Paddy Jackson on the bench.

France will have to be at their best if they are to beat Ireland. While they too are in the race for the title, they have come in for plenty of criticism following their loss to Wales in round three and their narrow win over Scotland last weekend. Talk this week from the French camp has seen Philippe Saint-Andre attempt to deflect blame off his side for their performances while Nicolas Mas was so aggrieved at the criticism levelled at the French pack that he upped sticks and walked out of a press conference.

But Ireland are wary of this French team, they are three from four after all. Ireland coach Les Kiss said this week they are not a "dishevelled place of chaos" and as rugby well knows, there is nothing more unpredictable than Les Bleus.

In form

For France, Yoann Huget is playing well on the flank and scored the all-important try against Scotland last weekend. Brice Dulin at fullback has also put in some consistent performances.

Chris Henry has done a superb job of holding down the openside berth with Sean O'Brien out injured while Peter O'Mahony has been the standout blindside in the championship. Jonathan Sexton played his best game of the 2014 Six Nations last weekend against Italy and O'Driscoll is still confounding defences despite being in the twilight years of his Test career.

Out of form

© Scrum.com

Enlarge

The French half-backs have come in for plenty of criticism in the Six Nations and Saint-Andre has gone for his third different pairing against Ireland with Maxime Machenaud and Remi Tales starting. The pack has also come in for flak, talk which prompted the infamous Mas walkout.

Ireland are playing well as a unit - there were questions over Sexton's form and fitness earlier in the tournament but he performed well last weekend.

Key area to watch

France have recalled Louis Picamoles in the back-row and he starts at blindside. He will come up against O'Mahony and that battle may go some way to determining which way the result swings.

Time to say goodbye

Saturday will make the end to O'Driscoll's Ireland career. The finest player of his generation, Ireland will have to work hard to fill the void left by the talismanic centre. Robbie Henshaw has been earmarked by O'Driscoll as the right man to wear the outside centre shirt, but those ponderings will have to wait for another day as the Six Nations bids farewell to O'Driscoll on Saturday. He has re-written the history books for the tournament. No one has made more appearances or scored more tries in the championship than O'Driscoll. He will be missed.

Stats

• Ireland have been the best ruckers in the tournament, winning 440 of the 458 contested.
• France have made the most off-loads in the championship with 67 with Ireland last on 23.
• Ireland have the best lineout in the championship having lost just four from 61.

Trivia

• Despite the criticism levelled at France, they have lost just one game from their last six in the championship.
• Ireland have recorded just one win in France since 1972, that triumph came in 2000 when O'Driscoll scored his famous hat-trick.

Prediction

Ireland will win by three points and claim the championship.