Sean O’Brien: Michalak won’t get any special treatment

He is widely regarded as the one player who can make or break France at this World Cup, but Frederic Michalak will not be singled out for any more attention than normal when Ireland face their Six Nations rivals in their last World Cup Pool D assignment this Sunday.

So says Sean O’Brien, though the Ireland openside – for whom terrorising the opposing 10 is an integral part of his brief – did admit that both Michalak and Jonathan Sexton will both expect a close-up examination in the Millennium Stadium.

Much has already been made this week of how Matheiu Bastareaud launched his almost 19 stone frame down the out-half’s channel at every opportunity last February when the Irishman was just recently returned from a concussion sabbatical, but Sexton withstood the heat.