Rob Kearney has brushed off French attempts to destabilise Ireland’s build-up to Sunday’s vital World Cup clash as “unnecessary noise”.
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A reasonable assessment so far is that Ireland’s quality in the first three of those areas has dropped, while the fourth has become less important in a tournament that has so far been defined by running rugby. Players have had game time, combinations have been tested, injuries have been kept to a minimum, fairly routine wins have been racked up.
Assistant coach Feek reiterated that a decision on who to bring into the squad would be taken after Sunday’s match. “It’s a great prize for the pool victor”.
France and Ireland are desperate to avoid coming second and getting a date with the All Blacks next weekend.
“It’s always tough against France, you look at the sheer physical size of them, the power and speed of them as well as being big”, said O’Connell. Yet a series of French coaches have returned him to the 10 jersey as others have failed to make the shirt their own. No sign of the mutiny that almost exploded in the 2011 tournament, no tripping up against inferior rivals, even a few consistency in selection from the often unpredictable Saint-Andre.
That will do his confidence a world of good. Eight years ago, the teams met at the same stage, in the same stadium and on the same night – and France won 20-18 in one of the most memorable wins at a World Cup.
“The Six Nations is nearly like a burden on them in the middle of a Top 14 season”, Sexton said.
“I like the team’s mindset”. Humphreys kicks one against the run of play for 15-9, but Gelez hits straight back with eight minutes left.
France has reached the semifinals in six of the previous seven World Cups.
The victor faces a quarter-final against Argentina while the loser will go up against world champions New Zealand.
Former All Blacks coach picks Group of Death winners to face Ireland in semifinal.
“I hope that tomorrow we will have the arguments to win the game”.
“I don’t know whether France are trying to paint it out as a negative picture or not, but it’s 100 per cent not”. But Spedding is certain there is more to come from Philippe Saint-Andre’s side.
Number 8 Louis Picamoles and winger Noa Nakaitaci, who both started France’s first two pool matches, return to the starting line-up in place of Bernard le Roux and Remy Grosso respectively.
Devin Toner comes in for Iain Henderson at lock, Rob Kearney replaces Simon Zebo at full-back and Cian Healy takes over from Jack McGrath at loose-head prop.
What made this performance so special was how it was done without key players on the pitch, with Johnny Sexton and Paul O’Connell both having to go off in the opening half, and then the outstanding Peter O’Mahony and Keith Earls in the second.
Centre Jared Payne was also absent from the scrappy 16-9 win over Italy last Sunday, with what Ireland described as a “bruised foot”, and he hasn’t recovered his fitness.
There would have been more joy for the Irish had Keith Earls held a scoring pass from Bowe following a sweet, if rather basic, midfield switch move.
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Next up Argentina, but Ireland’s medical team are in for a busy week after a costly victory in Cardiff.
