O’Sullivan Doesn’t Like Flattery

By Cathal Dervan

IRELAND coach Eddie O’Sullivan is refusing to be sucked into the French trap as opposite number Bernard Laporte talks up the Irish ahead of Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final.

Laporte and French manager Jo Maso have gone as far as to suggest that Ireland will start as favorites to make the semis and a possible date with England.

O’Sullivan is having none of it, not even after Ireland ran the Aussies close in last Sunday’s epic encounter.

“We will not be fooled into taking France for granted, not at all,” laughed O’Sullivan as Ireland got back to business on the training ground on Tuesday.

“I think France have been quietly keeping their powder dry. A lot of people are writing them off based on the way they were in the Six Nations and then the build-up to the World Cup and their summer tour to Argentina was a bit of a catastrophe.

“But we all know you write the French off at your peril. They have a lot of game breakers, a lot of pace, big, strong men and a superb back row, rugged front five and a very powerful scrum and some class acts out in the backs — a pretty complete side at the moment and they are timing their run home.”

Ireland hero Brian O’Driscoll, who described his try against the Aussies as “just a dive in the corner,” agrees with his boss.

“France will be very difficult opposition, there is no question about that,” said O’Driscoll.

“The French in their defense certainly come forward very quickly and certainly we saw that when we played against them in March at Lansdowne Road. They don’t give you too much space.”

Ireland will be at full strength for the French game after the arrival of

Tyrone Howe as a replacement for the injured Denis Hickie. Victor Costello has resumed training and will be available for selection.

Hickie and Alan Quinlan arrived back in Dublin on Tuesday morning and immediately faced the prospect of surgery on their World Cup injuries.

Quinlan’s involvement came to an end when he dislocated his shoulder scoring the crucial try in the win over Argentina 10 days ago.

And Hickie’s tournament also ended in pain when he badly damaged ankle ligaments just before the break in the loss to Australia.

“Denis’s injury is very bad and he could be out for anything up to six months,” revealed O’Sullivan.

Ulster winger Tyrone Howe arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday as Hickie’s replacement while David Wallace is already in Australia in place of Munster teammate Quinlan.