Underdogs ready to fight back

Amid speculation of serious discontent among the squad three Irish players emerged today to dismiss claims of a crisis ahead of Friday's third pool game against World Cup hosts France.

Rumours that much of the squad was unhappy with their remote lodgings outside Bordeaux have gathered pace and speculation last night even suggested that Geordan Murphy, inexplicably left out of the match-day 22 for Gavin Duffy, had already packed his bags and gone home.

The IRFU vehemently denied that particular whisper and conclusive proof of his presence came today when he trained with the squad at the Stade Bordelais in Bordeaux. However, the management's efforts to drown out the rumour-mongers were not helped today when back-up outhalf Paddy Wallace and third choice hooker Frankie Sheahan, were sent out with flanker Simon Easterby to quell the storm.

Easterby, who started in the horror shows against Namibia and Georgia, insists that being written off by the press and entering the game against France as underdogs may now suit Eddie O'Sullivan's side. This, however, is a mentality that the squad as a whole has dismissed in recent campaigns.

"We know we must perform better than we have been when we play France, but we also know we're capable of doing exactly that," he said. "It's our biggest Test match for a long time and we don't need any extra motivation.

"We've been written off by the press but hopefully we'll see a good performance on Friday.

"France lost their first game and played well against Namibia. We'll be underdogs going into the game and that suits us well."

Sheahan, who would be in the stands had it not been for the dislocated thumb of Rory Best, admits there is a massive task ahead against the Six Nations champions, but, quite rightly, points out that Bernard Laporte's men are under pressure themselves, knowing that defeat to Ireland will end their World Cup.

The hooker, however, mentions "fear" as motivation, something more characteristic of a team in crisis, than of one in bullish mood.

"We're far from crisis. Our backs are to the wall, there's no hiding away from that, and the guys aren't hiding away from that," said Sheahan. "We want a performance. If we win on Friday night the landscape will have changed and it's as simple as that. We're not looking beyond that at the moment.

"There's a good buzz in the squad. There's a bit of nervous tension as well and that bit of fear I spoke about as well.

"But that's no harm feeling like that going into a big game. We're going into the lion's den on Friday night and there'll be no passengers needed.

"It's a winner takes all situation. That fear might just bring the best out in us."

For his part, Wallace, who is back-up for the embattled Ronan O'Gara, agrees. "I don't see any crisis at all at this stage. We've won two matches out of two. We could start thinking about a crisis if we put in another bad performance in against France."

Well, that and going home.

"But as things stand we're confident that we can produce a big performance and beat France on Friday."

And well they might. The underdog mentality that has been shunned in recent years, may need to make a reappearance. It seems to suit any Irish team, of any code.

Interestingly, though, there was no mention of revenge. Vincent Clerc, whose try spoilt the debut of rugby in Croke Park last spring, believes this could be Ireland's biggest motivation.

"The World Cup is a different competition to the Six Nations entirely, and they will have memories of the last World Cup, when they completely imploded against the French," said the 26-year-old. "It is especially for that reason that they will be seeking revenge.

"It was a great moment when we beat them then. They will have been disappointed with that and are going to want to rebel."

Asked if it was a good time to play Ireland, Clerc replied: "I am not convinced. It is clear Ireland are not in the best of form but perhaps they will turn it around in this match.

"They have changed several players. They are proud and need to put in a huge performance on Friday.

"They will be different to what we saw from their first two matches."

Sporting a true Irish mentality, perhaps, one that has got many a job done in the past.