France has three days more than Ireland to prepare for their likely Pool D-deciding showdown next week on the last day of the Rugby World Cup pool stage.
They aren't rest days.
Coach Philippe Saint-Andre began plotting an end to his team's poor run against Ireland as soon as they saw off Canada 41-18 on Thursday.
That was France's third successive pool win, all but ensuring Saint-Andre's side a place in the last eight. Ireland will be confident of matching that by beating Italy at London's Olympic Stadium on Sunday, to tee up a mouth-watering decider against France in Cardiff.
It's not just about keeping up momentum. France's five-match winning streak is its longest in four years. Victory would also avoid an expected quarterfinal against defending champion New Zealand.
Since taking charge after the 2011 World Cup, Saint-Andre's record against Ireland has been two losses and two draws. That includes Ireland's win in Paris last year, its first since 2000, in centre Brian O'Driscoll's last test appearance.
France has played well in the World Cup only in spells so far, and Ireland remains slight favourite — although that seems to annoy Saint-Andre.
"I don't think the difference is as huge as people like to say," a defiant-sounding Saint-Andre said on Friday.
Their matches have been close since he took charge: 17-17 in Paris in 2012; 13-13 in Dublin in 2013; last year O'Driscoll signed off in style as Ireland won 22-20; and this year Ireland clinched it 18-11 at home.
"This year we scored a try and they didn't," Saint-Andre said, referring to lock Romain Taofifenua's try.
It was steady kicking from Jonathan Sexton that sealed Ireland's win that day in Dublin, rather than line breaks and expansive rugby.
France's kicker that day was Camille Lopez, a highly erratic player who exasperated Saint-Andre during the Six Nations.
The coach inherited an aging side after the last World Cup, and experimentation was inevitable.
"We made some mistakes, but we've also had a few finds," he said.
His best decision, however, was three years ago when he recalled Frederic Michalak, a member of France's 2003 World Cup squad.
The 32-year-old Michalak became France's all-time leading World Cup point-scorer, eclipsing Thierry Lacroix's against Canada.
"Fred is reaching maturity," Saint-Andre said. "The fact he's playing at this level is down to his commitment and hard work."
It has been quite a turnaround.
Michalak was so out of favour with previous coach Marc Lievremont that at the last World Cup he was not even called up as an injury replacement when David Skrela hurt his shoulder in the opening win against Japan.
Four years on and Michalak — who is also France's record test point-scorer with 436 — is playing some of the best rugby of his career.
"For the time being," Saint-Andre said. "But the next matches are the important ones, and he knows that."
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