Earlier today, France tighthead prop Nicolas Mas stormed out of a press conference after taking umbrage at some the questions put to him.

With French rugby apparently in turmoil ahead of this weekend's final Six Nations game against Ireland, it hardly dispels the notion that the French camp is an unhappy place.

To find out more about the mood on Gallic soil, we were joined by France-based Rugby World writer Gavin Mortimer who says Le Mas found the questions "too negative".

"It does highlight the pressure that is on France. They haven't been playing well and a poll in Midi Olympique said that 91 per cent of French rugby fans did not think they deserved to beat Scotland. It's things like that that are gnawing away at the French players. They're not quite a laughing stock, but they are approaching that," said Mortimer who explained why questions about the underwhelming scrum hit Mas hard.

Mortimer also believes the times when France could "produce something from nothing is gone". He feels each recent French head coach has been more conservative than the last.

"I do not think this France team is capable of 80 minutes of high intensity rugby like Ireland did against Wales or England did against Ireland," said Mortimer, citing centre Mathieu Bastareaud as a weak link and he also does not think fly-half Jules Plisson has been getting good service.

He also pointed out that France's tries in this year's Six Nations have come from opposition errors and individual initiative and is confident that Ireland will win if they can weather the first few minutes.

Mortimer also discussed French perceptions of their most recent Irish import, Jonathan Sexton.