 Eddie O'Sullivan is confident his side can beat the French |
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan believes his team have shaken French self-belief ahead of the World Cup, despite losing Sunday's RBS Six Nations clash. French counterpart Bernard Laporte said his side landed a psychological blow with the 20-17 win - the teams meet in the World Cup in Paris in September.
"If they'd won well, then they would've had a psychological advantage going into the World Cup," said O'Sullivan.
"But the way they won will have sown seeds of doubt in Laporte's mind."
Toulouse winger Vincent Clerc crossed in the dying seconds to give France a dramatic victory at Croke Park.
"I wasn't surprised that Bernard Laporte was open about his belief France
have landed a psychological blow ahead of the World Cup," he added.
"He did say last week that this was the game France had targeted in the Six
Nations. But now he might be feeling a little more insecure than a week ago.
"I can't imagine that after Sunday his headset is France should not be
afraid of Ireland - which is the attitude I think he wanted to develop.
"He said it was a pivotal game and that if France won in Dublin they would
win the Six Nations and score a psychological blow ahead of the World Cup.
"But when we meet France in the World Cup there will be a huge amount of
pressure on them to deliver.
 | The occasion did get to the boys - there was an extra edge of
nervousness that wouldn't have been there at Lansdowne Road.
|
"And I know from our last two performances against France that if we get our
game in order in Paris, they'll have a very difficult day at the office."
Ireland's next opponents are England who arrive in Dublin on February 24 in a
must win encounter if O'Sullivan's side are to remain in the Six Nations title
race.
They will at least be pleased to have negotiated their Croke Park debut and
O'Sullivan admitted the enormity of a historic moment in Irish sporting history
took an inevitable toll.
"In retrospect the occasion got to the players. It was very hard to ignore
what was happening yesterday," he said.
"The stadium was full and it was a phenomenal atmosphere. The whole setting
was different for a home game. We knew it would be - we addressed it and talked
about it.
"But the occasion did get to the boys - there was an extra edge of
nervousness that wouldn't have been there at Lansdowne Road.
"Hopefully that's over now because we've played the first game at Croke
Park."
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Highlights: Ireland 17-20 France