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France, Ireland to face off in decisive battle today

The knockout phase of the Rugby World Cup is already starting for France and Ireland.

Both teams have had indifferent starts to the tournament and meet at the Stade de France today in a match likely to decide which team advances to the quarter-finals.

"We are trying not to put too much pressure on ourselves," France lock Jerome Thion said. "We are not thinking about defeat. It's forbidden."

Argentina and Ireland lead Pool D with nine points, three more than France, which lost to Argentina 17-12 in the opening match of the tournament before bouncing back by scoring 13 tries in a 87-10 rout of Namibia on Sunday.

There are similarities between the sides heading into the match.

Ireland, just like France, has been subject to fierce criticism from its national media following a lackluster 37-12 win over Namibia and a somewhat desperate 14-10 rally over Georgia on Saturday.

"We are going into the lion's den Friday night and there are no passengers," Ireland hooker Frankie Sheahan said.

Both coaches, France's Bernard Laporte and Ireland's Eddie O'Sullivan, have made surprising changes -- with big-name omissions such as Ireland scrumhalf Peter Stringer and France center Yannick Jauzion. Neither was shown any favor in team selection.

"[Jauzion's] form is not as good as the others, it's as simple as that," Laporte said. "It is not the Yannick we know, up to his maximum potential. He needs to work a bit more."

O'Sullivan named Eoin Reddan to make his World Cup debut in place of the out-of-form Stringer.
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