“There’s a huge amount of experience in this team and we’ve played in a few massive occasions before”.
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What Ireland have built, they have no intention of France pulling it asunder. “The forwards work a lot on that, the set-pieces particularly, not necessarily to innovate but rather to find different variations of the same combinations”.
In Brian O’Driscoll’s final Test, Sexton suffered a head injury in a 22-20 victory over France in Paris, a win that secured Joe Schmidt’s men the Six Nations crown.
Saint-André swatted away a question about whether France would pay the Ireland outside-half Jonathan Sexton close attention, as they did in Dublin last February, but his selection of a full-back, Brice Dulin, on the left-wing suggests France expect an aerial assault.
“What everyone knows is that he’s [Schmidt] very accurate, appreciated, hard-working and very present in the team’s daily life”.
“They are the favourites for that game”.
“That would be the major reason because I don’t think anyone, based on their performances so far, could underestimate the Argentinean team, and not just the personnel they’ve got but the collective they’ve demonstrated on the pitch”.
“It’s an exceptional match to play in against a big rugby nation”.
“Everyone’s waiting to see the best of Ireland, everyone’s waiting to see the best of France, and whoever brings the best game on the weekend will win”.
“One thing I know, is that both the centres have pretty much limitless courage and will put themselves in the way of Basteraud or anyone else coming down that channel”, Schmidt said.
“He has the potential to be one of the stand-out performers at this World Cup, particularly if Ireland are successful”.
Ulster’s fast-improving Henderson has installed himself as Ireland’s new enforcer at the World Cup, now realising his long-held potential.
“We’ve also used [in our preparation] past matches against them”.
Humphreys backed Henderson to extend his fine tournament form, now he has become a serious rival to Devin Toner’s claims to partner captain Paul O’Connell at lock. The Millennium Stadium is a cauldron and if you look at that, the Irish fans will overshadow the French and get a good atmosphere going then there’s no reason why the Irish can’t win and it’s important that they win as well.
The last time that happened, when the All Blacks had again waltzed through a relatively easy pool, they found themselves ill-prepared to handle a fired up French and were knocked out in that first play-off game.
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They have, however, not beaten Ireland in four years.
