Phillipe Saint Andre surprised many with his selection of Frédéric Michalak as France’s starting fly-half for Saturday’s Six Nations game against Ireland. Dropping François Trinh-Duc from the number ten spot looks a risky move; playing a scrum half at fly half, who spreads doubt amongst the rest of the French team, almost seems like a gift to Ireland.

Keith Wood spoke with Newstalk Breakfast today and told Oisin Langan he believes Michalak could be crucial to Ireland’s chances of a win.

Wood feels it’s unfair for a player who plays at scrum half for his club to be thrust into the number ten spot for international duty, and it’s showing with his teammates.

“I think an awful lot of his team don’t think he should be there…He just doesn’t play in that position,” Wood said.

Wood looked back to France’s first hour performance against England, with Trinh-Duc on the field, when they looked competitive and in with a chance of a result. However, with the removal of Trinh-Duc and introduction of Michalak that fell apart and the French slumped to their third defeat of the tournament.

Keith also talked about the importance of Cian Healy’s return, the weather Ireland should be hoping for tomorrow (and Michalak should dreading) and tried to explain why Ireland find France, traditionally, to be the toughest of Six Nations opponents.

Watch - The BBC's review of Frédéric Michalak's year so far

A scathing assessment of Michalak's performances in the first two games of this Six Nations, with former England head coach Clive Woodward less than kind with his words towards the Toulon man