British and Irish Lions

Scotland travel to Paris looking to erase memories of their 36-6 thrashing by Ireland but they will meet a French side anxious to get their RBS 6 Nations campaign back on track.

A below-par performance at Murrayfield saw the Scots collapse to their biggest-ever defeat by the Irish, who had not won in Edinburgh since 1985.

It should have been a tight encounter, but Scotland's much-vaunted pack failed to deliver while their backs showed a chronic lack of firepower.

They created a hatful of try-scoring opportunities, but their inability to put them away suggests another reverse awaits at the Stade de France.

Les Bleus are also reeling after losing their RBS 6 Nations opener - there is no shame in going down at Twickenham, but the result handed England pole position in the title race.

Montferrand fly-half Gerard Merceron has been made the fall-guy for the defeat - he missed three kicks at goal - with coach Bernard Laporte handing Francois Gelez the number 10 shirt.

France hold all the aces, as Gelez is considered to have a cool head under pressure and a prodigious boot, while the French pack should be able to secure the ball for their talented backline.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.