Rugby: Ireland, France up for big encounter

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell. Photo: Reuters
Ireland captain Paul O'Connell. Photo: Reuters
Ireland are ready to repeat the body-on-the-line defence that has helped them to four wins in a row over France and they will not be deterred from relying on their successful kick and chase game in their World Cup Pool D decider.

"They're a big side: Massive, big strong athletes," Ireland captain Paul O'Connell said, saying his side needed a "massive lift" in intensity from last week's 16-9 win over Italy to avoid a very tough day.

"They're bigger than us and that's what teams do when they play Ireland, that's what South Africa do as well. It probably makes sense when you're bigger.

"And they're not just bigger, they obviously have incredible players with fantastic talent and skill so the challenge is massive for us."

Ireland's defence hung on to beat France 18-11 in their most recent encounter, a bruising Six Nations clash in February, and had to survive an equally nerve-shredding finale a year earlier to seal the 2014 Six Nations championship.

France selected Brice Dulin and Scott Spedding, players who are originally fullbacks, among their back three with the aim of disrupting and providing an immediate counter-attack to Ireland's up-and-under kicks, coach Philippe Saint-Andre said.

But Ireland are well used to sides lining up that way, according to fullback Rob Kearney, one of the best fielders of a high ball in rugby who expects to do just as much "kicking and jumping" as usual in the Millennium Stadium.

"Opposition teams know it's something that's coming when they play Ireland. It's part of our game plan most weekends and it's won us lots of games," Kearney, who returns from the slight knock that kept him out of the Italy game, said.

"They've picked two fullbacks, probably exactly for that reason. Teams do it against us more often than not but we've got three fullbacks ourselves really in the back three, all three of us have played there at some stage throughout our career.

"There's going to be a contest, we just need to make sure we come out as best as many times as possible."

Ireland and France have already made the knockout stages. The winner faces a quarterfinal against Argentina while the loser will go up against world champions New Zealand.

PAST RESULTS MEAN NOTHING TO FRANCE

Past results and quarterfinal match-ups will mean nothing to France skipper Thierry Dusautoir said.

France have not beaten Ireland in four years but have prevailed in all three of the previous World Cup encounters between the two countries.

"Statistics are a thing of the past," Dusautoir said on the eve of the clash at the Millennium Stadium.

"We follow our path in that World Cup, what happened in previous matches is irrelevant. We will play this match without pressure. We are going to enjoy it and we are relishing the challenge."

Both teams have already qualified for the last eight and the losers of Sunday's match will face holders New Zealand for a place in the semifinals, while the winners take on Argentina.

That will have no bearing on France's mindset when they take on the Six Nations champions under the closed roof at the Millennium Stadium.

"The last time we played Argentina, we lost, so I don't think it would be easier for us to play against them," said Dusautoir.

"I just want the team to focus on that game against Ireland, I want us to improve, the aim is to beat Ireland."

To do that, France will need to play better than they did in beating Canada 41-18 in their previous match at the World Cup, but Dusautoir is confident Les Bleus are on the way up.

Asked about Ireland's sluggish performance against Italy, a laboured 16-9 win, Dusautoir said: "What I'm interested in is our own performances, our third game was better than the second one and I hope this one will be better than the previous three.

"I like the team's mindset. We've been in our bubble together since July 5, focused on our goal. We don't pay attention to what's being said outside. We'll see where we stand after that game."

Playing Ireland also means facing the mercurial Jonathan Sexton as the former Racing Metro flyhalf locks horns with his France counterpart Frederic Michalak.

"He's a great player, we know him well because he played for three years in France," said Michalak.

"I have a lot of respect for him, he brings a lot to Ireland. I'll focus on the France game, not on him in particular.

"It will be more a task for Thierry to contain him," he added with Dusautoir grinning alongside him.

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