This Gallic-Irish showdown has always been highlighted as the potentially defining game of both countries in this World Cup. Now it has suddenly loomed into view, and Joe Schmidt belied his seemingly relaxed manner after unveiling his Irish selection yesterday when admitting his and everyone else's mood has intensified this week.
“You wouldn’t be overly human if, when the stakes are greater, you weren’t a little bit more on edge and if you weren’t a little bit more pensive and questioning of your own decision-making, and the decision-making of the group, of coaches getting together and trying to formulate our strategy and make our selections, organise the training to try to make sure we cover the bases we feel we need to cover.
“But it’s one of the most exciting things about the job. It’s incredibly motivating. You don’t take on jobs like this if you don’t want to be part of that. But there are negative parts because there is a fear factor, and the massive support we’ve had probably exacerbates that because you don’t want to let people down and you want them to enjoy supporting the team because the team perform well and earn their respect and support.”
Day off
The
Ireland
squad did some fishing, shooting and golfing on their day off, “and the backs went into Cardiff to the shops,” added Schmidt, which seems to be a running joke. “But certainly from a training and preparation perspective, we know that things have to be ratcheted up. We know that based on our performance last week against our first tier one opponent and the capabilities that the French team have.
“It’s about trying to cover all your bases and cover them with what you anticipate is the intensity that’s going to be required of another level.
“If anything, it manifests itself in a little bit more intensity in training and inevitably, a little bit of a fear factor. If they get a roll on, if they get some of their big athletes up and running, we know that we could be in trouble.
"I am expecting a combative game," added Schmidt. "I do think when they have really tried to carry at us when they have really tried to utilise the power they have and the ball-carriers that they have they feel they have had a bit of success and I've no doubt they will bring that as a big part of their game. I think they will change their game up a bit. that is one of things Freddie Michalak brings for them, his ability to vary the game.
"He has got a really inventive short kicking game that can create opportunities," added Schmidt, pointing to the try he created for Rabah Slimani in France's opening win over Italy and nearly did for Wesley Fofana against Canada.
Soccer team
It’s possible too the Irish squad will take some motivation from watching their footballing counterparts beating the World champions on Thursday night – the vast majority of them and Schmidt boisterously watching the game in the team room or the adjoining bar, although without any alcohol being taken – with the Ulster contingent also keeping an eye on Northern Ireland’s qualification.
“To be honest, I am not sure that they need too much more motivation,” said Schmidt, but added: “It probably does contribute a little bit to confidence, they see other Irish teams that are underdogs step up and knock off the current giant of football.
"Sometimes, as even Sir Alex Ferguson said, you definitely need a bit of luck. We had a bit of luck in Paris two years where (Jean-Marc) Doussain missed a penalty a kick that he might have otherwise got and we won by two points. There are always narrow margins, I've no doubt the Irish team massively deserved their victory but there was probably one or two shots on goal by a German team that seemed to have a lot of possession and you are willing them to miss and willing them to get turned over but it was pretty nerve-wracking."
