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Lineouts may be critical for Ireland and France

Ireland's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal with France could be decided Sunday in the lineouts, an area where both teams excel, says Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan said Ireland had a strong performance in the lineouts against Argentina and Australia, when they won and lost by one point, respectively, in pool matches.

"There were 51 lineouts against Argentina in clean and dry conditions, and I'm happy to say our lineout has functioned very well, both in offense and defense," O'Sullivan said.

There were 43 lineouts in the match against Australia, where Ireland managed to steal five, the same number it did against Argentina. And Ireland gave up the ball just twice in 50 lineouts in both those matches.

"That must put a worry in people's minds in terms of spoiling our lineouts and claiming their own," said O'Sullivan. "In both our last two games we won some crucial lineouts.

"We took some very important ball off Australia last week. It didn't win us the game but it got us close."

O'Sullivan took an unintentional swipe at rival coaches when he said that strong play in the lineouts is the result of "good coaching and hard work."

"It's not up to me to judge other teams," said O'Sullivan. "But I know we have worked very hard on our lineouts because it was an area of our game that was very creaky two years ago. In my first Six Nations [match] we didn't fire at all and it put us under horrendous pressure."

O'Sullivan said Ireland was lucky to have athletic locks such as the three O's -- Paul O'Connell, Malcolm O'Kelly and Donnacha O'Callaghan.

"If it functions well in both attack and defense, it can be a platform for winning a game," he said.

France also has strong lineout skills, O'Sullivan said.

"If you ask whether we'd have the same sort of effect on the French, I don't think so," said O'Sullivan. "The French have won a lot of their lineout ball as well, but you'd like to think you'll poach a few."

Ireland was scheduled to have a light run Saturday while France had its first look at the Telstra Dome on Friday evening and planned a low-key day on the eve of the match.

French flyhalf Frederic Michalak, the tournament's leading scorer, said Ireland is coming into the match on a roll.

"The Irish are on top of their form, playing very, very well and it is going to be a tough match," Michalak said this week.

Michalak has 78 points in the scoring race, an 18-point lead over Chris Paterson of Scotland. But Michalak is more concerned with team pursuits and the Irish quarterfinal.

"The only thing it will mean is that the team has played well," he said of winning the scoring title. "I'll only score points if the rest of the team is playing well."

O'Sullivan said Ireland can't afford to fall behind early on Sunday like it did against Argentina and Australia.

"If we have a bad start and get two scores down against the French, we all know that their shoulders go back and their heads go up and they'll start throwing double-reverse passes behind their back," said O'Sullivan.

"And they tend to catch those when they are on their game."

The Irish coach said his team is psychologically ready for France. The last time the teams played in March at Lansdowne Road, Ireland won 15-12, the third win in their last four matches with France.

"We came here with a goal of getting into the quarterfinals, and although there is a sense of satisfaction and relief, we're not happy with that," said O'Sullivan.

"We would like to believe that we are good enough to get to the semifinals."

"Those opportunities come once every four years if you are lucky. It's a one-off shot for everybody and a long time until the next World Cup."
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