The Rugby World Cup is about to get serious for Ireland and France.
For the first three weeks of the tournament, the Irish and the French have used games against Romania, Canada, and Italy to ease into what is a grueling month-and-a-half slog. Players have had game time, combinations have been tested, injuries have been kept to a minimum, fairly routine wins have been racked up.
All roads now lead to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium for what has always been circled as one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the pool stage.
The prestige of topping a World Cup pool will be irrelevant to the Irish and the French on Sunday. The real prize for the winner? Avoiding the All Blacks in the quarterfinals.
"I've said it once and I'll say it again, my players are desperate to play in this match," France coach Philippe Saint-Andre said. "They've had it in mind for a very long time."
The French have gone about their business with ominous ease. No sign of the mutiny that nearly exploded in the 2011 tournament, no tripping up against inferior rivals, even some consistency in selection from the often unpredictable Saint-Andre. In fact, apart from some players being kept awake by a wedding party in their hotel in the days leading up to the World Cup, the team has kept out of the limelight.
They've had 10 days to prepare for Ireland after beating Canada 41-18, and say they're ready for whatever the next two weekends bring. Ireland flyhalf Jonny Sexton, who has just finished a stint in France with Racing Metro, gave some insight into the French psyche.
"The Six Nations is almost like a burden on them in the middle of a Top 14 season," Sexton said. "That's the kind of impression that I got, that it almost disrupts their league season.
"And then it comes to a World Cup, it's almost like they build for this. It's like they use players through the Six Nations year on year to have a big playing pool for the World Cup."
France has reached the semifinals in six of the previous seven World Cups. Only New Zealand can match that consistency. The unpredictable French, they've often been called. Maybe not.
Ireland, the Six Nations champion, was going along nicely until an ugly 16-9 win over Italy last weekend stifled some momentum. However, being unbeaten against the French in their last four meetings will inspire some confidence within the Irish squad, and pre-match mind games are unlikely to get to Joe Schmidt's men.
Saint-Andre suggested that "all the pressure is on the shoulders of Ireland."
"There's a huge amount of experience in this team and we've played in some massive occasions before," Ireland fullback Rob Kearney responded. "We've been exposed to hype and chat from the opposition plenty of times. I'd like to think we're all mature enough now and long enough in the game now to cope."
To counter Ireland's strong kicking game, France selected two fullbacks in its lineup — Scott Spedding at No. 15 and Brice Dulin on the wing. Saint-Andre said it is a bid to "unnerve the Irish" and give his team options for counter-attacking.
No. 8 Louis Picamoles — set for his 50th cap — and winger Noa Nakaitaci return for France, which switched Damien Chouly from No. 8 to the openside flank in the third change.
Ireland also made three changes, with Kearney selected after a buttock injury, Cian Healy preferred to Jack McGrath at loosehead prop, and Devin Toner replacing Iain Henderson at lock.
Healy has played only 95 minutes since undergoing neck surgery and the resultant nerve damage to his right hand, but his big-game experience may have earned him the nod over the up-and-coming McGrath.
Center Jared Payne missed the win over Italy on Sunday with what Ireland described as a "bruised foot," and he hasn't recovered his fitness. Keith Earls kept his place alongside Robbie Henshaw in midfield.
Both teams will stay in Cardiff for the quarterfinals.
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