Sean O’Brien vigilant on growing French threat

The sight of Louis Picamoles rampaging around Twickenham last weekend was a warning to Ireland of France’s burgeoning threat and Sean O’Brien is among those who believes ‘Les Bleus’ will be more dangerous than ever when they face Ireland at the Rugby World Cup.

Picamoles lost much of last season with a lung infection and has thus played little for France this last year, but he was a colossus against England last Saturday and gave an exhibition of forceful attacking rugby from number eight in an imposing French pack.

“It was a weird kind of game,” said O’Brien at the launch of Leinster’s latest home and alternate Canterbury jerseys.