Write France off at your peril, warns Ronan O’Gara

Ronan O’Gara believes assumptions Ireland will “take” France at Rugby World Cup is dangerous talk, and warns the French players have never been fitter during the Pierre Saint-Andre reign.

Joe Schmidt’s Ireland enjoy an excellent record over the enigmatic Les Bleus in their previous two Six Nations Championship encounters, while an Irish public remain confident Ireland will top their pool, avoid the All Blacks in the quarter-finals should they defeat France in the Millennium Stadium on October 11.

Without stating Ireland can or will win the World Cup, O’Gara, however, does believe now is the time for Ireland to finally achieve something tangible on the world stage.