Ireland take on France in quarter-final

Keith Wood and his team have their chance to secure a place in history as they face France in their eagerly anticipated World Cup quarter-final in Melbourne.

Ireland have never been beyond the last eight but a growing sense of destiny has suffused this squad, epitomised by the desire of Wood to bow out of international rugby in the finest possible style.

Adversity has already been confronted by Eddie O’Sullivan’s side, with injuries to key players Geordan Murphy, Alan Quinlan and Denis Hickie, and they have proved their mettle by beating Argentina and going within a narrow David Humphreys drop goal miss of a win over Australia.

Now they face France, who themselves feel their time has come courtesy of greater discipline and consistency under the guidance of coach Bernard Laporte.

Both sides boast powerful, consistent forward packs as well as backline divisions stuffed full of classy individuals and effective combinations.

The clash of Brian O’Driscoll and France’s Tony Marsh in the centres will be key, as will the ability of scrum-half Peter Stringer to avoid the attentions of the wily Fabien Galthie and the French loose forwards in order to deliver quick ball to Ronan O’Gara at fly-half.

The absence of Hickie, Ireland’s all-time leading try scorer, is a major blow, and John Kelly replaces him on the wing.

O’Sullivan has made one tactical change, selecting Victor Costello ahead of Anthony Foley at number eight.

Laporte has stuck with the players who have established themselves of late, with the impressive Jerome Thion starting at lock and Marsh overcoming an Achilles tendon injury to start at centre.

Brian Liebenberg’s hat-trick against the United States has won him a place on the bench for Les Bleus, while Laporte has also opted to have Patrick Tabacco’s line-out prowess on call as loose forward cover.

Ireland: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, K Maggs, J Kelly; R O’Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, K Wood (captain), J Hayes, M O’Kelly, P O’Connell, S Easterby, K Gleeson, V Costello.

Replacements: S Byrne, M Horan, D O’Callaghan, E Miller, G Easterby, D Humphreys, A Foley.

France: N Brusque; A Rougerie, T Marsh, Y Jauzion, C Dominici; F Michalak, F Galthie (captain); J-J Crenca, R Ibanez, S Marconnet, F Pelous, J Thion, S Betsen, O Magne, I Harinordoquy.

Replacements: Y Bru, O Milloud, O Brouzet, P Tabacco, G Merceron, B Liebenberg, P Elhorga.