Preview: Ireland v France
The losers on Sunday at the Millenium Stadium will face the All Blacks in the quarterfinals, so although both sides are already through to the knock-out stage of the tournament, there is plenty riding on this match.
Neither side has been completely convincing in their respective wins against Italy, Canada and Romania, but they have both got some momentum from those matches and will be expected to raise their games considerably with so much at stake.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt understands what makes French rugby tick having served as an assistant to Scotland coach Vern Cotter at Clermont between 2007-10, before taking over from Australia coach Michael Cheika at Leinster.
The New Zealander won two European Cup titles, the European Challenge Cup and a Pro 12 title with the Irish province, after helping Clermont to a Top 14 title in 2010 ending an 11-year nightmare of finishing runners-up.
Schmidt, who was granted Irish citizenship in September, admitted Ireland's match against France to decide World Cup Pool D is "special".
"But that's mostly because of the players playing in the Irish jersey now," the 50-year-old said.
"I have unbelievable respect for them, as I have for the Clermont players particularly the ones who I knew well, Morgan Parra and Wesley Fofana, those guys who I would have had a bit of time coaching.
"But there are no mixed loyalties, as much as I like those people and think they're super rugby players, it's all about the Irish 23 in the hope we can get the result as disappointed as those people might be, that's the nature of professional sport."
Schmidt said the French would pose a formidable challenge at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
"They've got ball carriers like Louis Picamoles, Mathieu Basteraud and Bernard Le Roux coming off the bench. Even the likes of Pascal Pape and Yoann Maestri," he said.
"We just know there is going to be a wave coming at us and that doesn't include the guys with the footwork like Wesley Fofana."
Schmidt added: "I have known Wesley for seven or eight years, ever since he was coming through the system at Clermont.
"He is an unbelievably good athlete and a very skilful one too. Coping with him and others is going to be a handful."
Schmidt has turned around a demoralised Ireland unit in his two years in charge.
The Irish have won two successive Six Nations titles and registered notable wins over southern hemisphere giants Australia and South Africa.
But that counted for nothing at the World Cup, Schmidt said, adding that he had shared a word with France coach Philippe Saint-Andre at a pre-tournament coaches' meeting.
"Philippe did tell me they were better than they'd ever been and more ready than they'd ever been. They're the fittest he's had them," Schmidt said.
Thoughts have turned to victory, the former schoolteacher insisted. The loser has to play New Zealand one week later. The winner of the pool gets a more attractive proposition in Argentina.
"We have to come up with an accurate gameplan," he said.
"One of the things with France is that if you give them opportunities or you're loose with the ball, your discipline's not nailed on, you give them access and once they get momentum they're very difficult to stop."
Players to watch:
For Ireland: Rob Kearney is one of the best around under the high ball, and if he is able to put Tommy Bowe in space there could be trouble for France. The halfback pairing of Jonny Sexton and Conor Murray will look to dictate terms, but they will need a decent platform from their pack. Sean O'Brien will be the key man at the breakdowns and in the set-pieces it will be about the experience of Paul O'Connell and Cian Healy.
For France: Scott Spedding will be solid at the back, but the attacking spark is likely to come from the midfield partnership of Mathieu Bastareaud and Wesley Fofana. Frederic Michalak is always worth watching and scrumhalf Sebastien Tillous Borde should provide him with good service. Louis Picamoles will look to impose himself physically and captain Thierry Dusautoir will get through a mountain of tackles, up front Yoann Maestri will be key in the line-outs and Rabah Slimani will anchor the scrum.
Head to head: Rob Kearney and Scott Spedding are two very different fullbacks and their clash of styles should be interesting, in midfield Keith Earls will have to measure up to the imposing Mathieu Bastareaud and Robbie Henshaw will be tested by the classy Wesley Fofana. The match is likely to be defined by the clash between influential playmakers Jonny Sexton and Frederic Michalak. Jamie Heaslip and Louis Picamoles should have a fierce confrontation from the back of the scrum and at the breakdown it will be Sean O'Brien up against Thierry Dusautoir. In the line-outs veterans Paul O'Connell and Pascal Pape should have another big battle while at scrum-time the key duel will be between Cian Healy and Rabah Slimani.
Recent results:
2015: Ireland won 18-11, Dublin
2014: Ireland won 22-20, Saint Denis
2013: Ireland drew with France 13-13, Dublin
2012: France drew with Ireland 17-17, Saint Denis
2011: France won 26-22, Saint Denis
2011: France won 19-12, Bordeaux
2011: France won 25-22, Dublin
2010: France won 33-10, Saint Denis
2009: Ireland won 30-21, Dublin
2008: France won 26-21, Saint Denis
2007: France won 25-3, Saint Denis
Prediction: France are a dangerous side and are capable of beating anyone on their day, but Ireland should have enough to win by about three points.
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Jonny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Paul O'Connell (captain), 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Nathan White,19 Iain Henderson, 20 Chris Henry, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Luke Fitzgerald.
France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Brice Dulin, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Sebastien Tillous Borde, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Damien Chouly, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Eddy Ben Arous.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Nicolas Mas, 19 Alexandre Flanquart, 20 Bernard Le Roux, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Alexandre Dumoulin.
Date: Sunday, October 11
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 16.45 (15.45 GMT; 17.45 French time)
Expected weather: Partly cloudy with a 10% chance of rain, high of 16, wind 20 kph
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
