By the end of another titanic tussle between these nations, the final placings in Pool D will be decided and Ireland and France will both know their opponents in next weekend’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
RUGBY WORLD CUP POOL D: Sunday, October 11
FRANCE (2nd) v IRELAND (1st), Millennium Stadium, 4.45pm (live TV3/UTV/RTÉ Radio 1/BBC Radio Ulster/IRFU Live Blog)
Team News: Paul O’Connell will captain Ireland in Cardiff and is joined in the second row by Devin Toner, who returns to the side for his 30th Test cap.
The familiar back row combination is made up of Jamie Heaslip at number 8, Sean O’Brien at openside flanker and Peter O’Mahony on the blindside.
Cian Healy, one of three changes from last weekend’s 16-9 win over Italy, starts his first game of the tournament. He links up with Mike Ross and Rory Best in the front row.
Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton are paired together at half-back with Robbie Henshaw and Keith Earls, now Ireland’s leading Rugby World Cup try scorer of all-time, named in the centre.
The back-three sees Rob Kearney, the final change from the Italy game, return at full-back with Tommy Bowe and Dave Kearney on the wings.
The replacements are Richardt Strauss, Jack McGrath, Nathan White, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan and Luke Fitzgerald.
Expanding on some of the tightest selection calls, head coach Joe Schmidt added: “We thought Keith played pretty well last week (against Italy) amidst a pretty flat effort and he played exceptionally well the last time he started in the Aviva. At the same time, Jared got through training on Wednesday and trained very well.
“But if we put him back into the game on Sunday it could aggravate the foot (he injured). There was a bit of swelling post-training on Wednesday. We felt it was prudent to leave Jared for another week. With the type of the game that is (the quarter-final), we want to have a fully-fit squad for that.
“(Second row) was another really tight call. Dev has been a ‘big game’ player for us and he gives us a little bit more lineout capability. Iain will add value and, again, it is a case of making sure that we have a few things covered for next week as well.
“We are qualified and we are very keen to qualify at the top of the pool and, at the same time, knowing the reality that regardless of where you finish in the pool, there is a game next week against a side that is incredibly capable.”
Meanwhile, France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made two personnel changes and one positional switch to the team to play Ireland.
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. Damien Chouly switches to openside flanker.
Toulouse powerhouse Picamoles will win his 50th cap, becoming the 53rd France player to reach the half-century milestone.
Thierry Dusautoir will captain les Bleus for the 55th time, joining Australian legend John Eales in seventh place on the all-time list.
Ten of France’s selected team also started the Six Nations match against Ireland in February which they lost 18-11. Seven of the eight forwards – all except le Roux – return from that day and three of the backs (Wesley Fofana, Mathieu Bastareaud and full-back Scott Spedding).
Fofana and Bastareaud will play together in the centre for the 13th time for France. Only Damien Traille and Yannick Jauzion (15) have played more often at 12 and 13 for France in the professional era.
Saint-Andre commented: “The pressure is all on Ireland. They are Six Nations champions and we haven’t beaten them in the last four meetings. It is all on their shoulders.
“We know Ireland’s strengths. They have a good carrying game, but they also have an excellent kicking game and are strong in the air.
“It’s important to be disciplined. We will play with passion. Application, determination and concentration will determine the outcome of this match.”
FRANCE: Scott Spedding (Clermont Auvergne); Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont Auvergne), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Wesley Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), Brice Dulin (Racing 92); Frederic Michalak (Toulon), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon); Eddy Ben Arous (Racing 92), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Rabah Slimani (Stade Francais), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse) (capt), Damien Chouly (Clermont Auvergne), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse).
Replacements: Benjamin Kayser (Clermont Auvergne), Vincent Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Francais), Bernard le Roux (Racing 92), Morgan Parra (Clermont Auvergne), Remi Tales (Racing 92), Alexandre Dumoulin (Racing 92).
IRELAND: Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster); Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht), Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster); Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster); Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Paul O’Connell (Young Munster) (capt), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster).
Replacements: Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster), Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Nathan White (Connacht), Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster), Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster), Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster).
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television Match Official: Graham Hughes (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): France to win: 5/4; Draw: 16/1; Ireland to win: 8/11
Pre-Match Quotes: Paul O’Connell (Ireland) – “We’ve always bounced back from poor performances under Joe’s tenure. Whether those have been wins or whether those have been losses, we’ve always managed to bounce back.
“You can go back through to where Joe was first in charge where we were very poor against Australia and then we were good against New Zealand after that. Even this season we were disappointed in the result against Wales, and the first 20 minutes of that match, but we bounced back from that.
“Now we probably haven’t done that as well as we have in the past since the start of the summer, and last week was disappointing. Credit to Italy they were really good but we didn’t help ourselves either; so I agree 100% there has to be not just a big but a massive lift in intensity.
“We know where France are going to be in terms of their physicality. They have had a great preparation, something they don’t usually get but which we are lucky enough to get for the Six Nations. If we don’t raise our intensity in a lot of what we’re doing, it will be a really tough match (on Sunday).”
Yoann Maestri (France) – “Qualification was important, but now we really want to go and get that top spot and beat the Irish, who have not lost against us for four years.
“The French (teams) are always unpredictable. But we should always be careful on how we handle the pressure, whether negative or positive. We are not favourites, and we can’t afford any mistakes.
“Those (final) 20 minutes against Ireland last February, they give you a benchmark. You can tell yourself you didn’t give up. But what will really give us confidence is getting the right accuracy and starting the match well.”
Pre-Match Links –
Head-To-Head: France v Ireland
RWC Stat Attack – France v Ireland
In Pics: Ireland Captain’s Run At Millennium Stadium
O’Connell Praises Payne’s ‘Calm Influence’
Recent Meetings –
2013: RBS 6 Nations: Ireland 13 France 13, Aviva Stadium
2014: RBS 6 Nations: France 20 Ireland 22, Stade de France
2015: RBS 6 Nations: Ireland 18 France 11, Aviva Stadium
Support Ireland on www.irishrugby.ie/facebook or search #ShouldertoShoulder / #IRE / #RWC2015 / #IREvFRA on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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