O'Driscoll urges team to be ready

Brian O’Driscoll has urged Ireland to step up preparations for the World Cup by matching France’s ferocity at the breakdown on Saturday.

O’Driscoll has identified the breakdown as the key battleground for the tournament in New Zealand, which begins on September 9.

Ireland’s build-up continues with their trip to Bordeaux in the first of a double header against France.

O’Driscoll is braced for a challenging evening but believes the contest will provide an ideal workout as the countdown to the World Cup continues.

“On Saturday we’ll get exactly what we always do from French teams,” he said.

“They are very physical and when they get that front foot ball they’re a very difficult team to contain.

“A lot of it will be about trying to be physical. A big aspect of this World Cup and the warm-up games will be the breakdown.

“It will be about who wins the collisions and who gets quick ruck ball because that’s the be-all and end-all of the game these days.

“If you create quick ruck ball defences don’t have time to realign, which is how you score