IRELAND trust referee Nigel Owens to protect their top stars against any late hits from France in Paris on Saturday, forwards coach Simon Easterby said yesterday.

Linchpin fly-half Johnny Sexton was targeted with a string of late tackles at the Stade de France two years ago when Ireland slipped up 10-9 in the 2016 Six Nations.

Ireland will open their Six Nations campaign in Paris this weekend, with Easterby adamant the officials will keep both sets of players in line.