Rallying calls from Ireland players

Ireland’s players have issued a rallying cry ahead of Friday’s critical World Cup showdown against France by rejecting claims the camp is in turmoil.

Coach Eddie O’Sullivan admitted yesterday Ireland had reached “crisis” point as their group campaign enters its decisive phase.

Poor performances against Namibia and Georgia have left confidence in tatters ahead of Friday’s daunting trip to Paris, where they have won just once in 35 years.

Defeat will leave them on the brink of a World Cup group exit, a terrible return given this squad has been widely touted as the most gifted in Irish history.

Morale has plummeted during the last two weeks, not helped by the discontent over the dreary location of the team hotel voiced by several players in private.

Further damage has been done by rumours surrounding the squad and in a fresh twist last night, Ireland were forced to reject reports Geordan Murphy had returned home.

Gavin Duffy’s promotion to the bench yesterday in place of Murphy was a baffling decision that is known to have angered the gifted Leicester back.

Murphy was one of the players viewed as s possible beneficiary of Ireland’s dismal start to the World Cup, instead he found himself dumped from the 22.

Subsequent reports he had packed his bags and returned home proved inaccurate, with the Irish Rugby Football Union denying the story, but it was a symptom of the problems facing the management.

On the pitch they have received little backing to halt their remarkable decline at the Stade de France on Friday, but flanker Simon Easterby insists spirit ahead of the match remains high.

“We know we must perform better than we have been when we play France, but we also know we’re capable of doing exactly that,” he said.

“It’s our biggest Test match for a long time and we don’t need any extra motivation.

“We’ve been written off by the press but hopefully we’ll see a good performance on Friday.

“France lost their first game and played well against Namibia. We’ll be underdogs going into the game and that suits us well.”

Veteran Frankie Sheahan admits Ireland face a mammoth task to overcome the Six Nations champions, who are under pressure themselves with defeat ending their World Cup.

Argentina are Ireland’s last opponents but with the possibility they might need a bonus point victory over the Pumas to progress, they are clearly viewing Friday as the pivotal match.

“We’re far from crisis. Our backs are to the wall, there’s no hiding away from that, and the guys aren’t hiding away from that,” said Sheahan.

“We want a performance. If we win on Friday night the landscape will have changed and it’s as simple as that. We’re not looking beyond that at the moment.

“There’s a good buzz in the squad. There’s a bit of nervous tension as well and that bit of fear I spoke about as well.

“But that’s no harm feeling like that going into a big game. We’re going into the lion’s den on Friday night and there’ll be no passengers needed.

“Morale is building and it’s going to come right on Friday night. All that matters now is Friday night.

“It’s a winner takes all situation. That fear might just bring the best out in us.”

Ulster fly-half Paddy Wallace, who will be supplying back-up for Ronan O’Gara from the bench, agrees with his team-mates.

“I don’t see any crisis at all at this stage. We’ve won two matches out of two,” he said.

“We could start thinking about a crisis if we put in another bad performance in against France.

“But as things stand we’re confident that we can produce a big performance and beat France on Friday.”