IRELAND BACK ROW Peter O’Mahony says there will always be fear ahead of a meeting with France, given their unpredictable nature and the attacking quality in les Blues‘ ranks.
The Munster captain starts on the blindside flank of what is a strong-looking Ireland team bolstered by the returns of Johnny Sexton, Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien, as well as the recovery from concussion of Rory Best.
Joe Schmidt’s side are on a run of eight wins as they prepare to welcome France to Dublin, but O’Mahony is taking nothing for granted.
“There’s always a fear factor with France,” admitted O’Mahony at Carton House today.
I think they’re always unpredictable. I don’t think they quite showed their hand last week [against Scotland]; I think they’re a more dangerous side than they showed last week.
“Guys in their backline like [Mathieu] Bastareaud, their back row, they’re a dangerous side and [even when] you knock them back two or three phases in defence, they go down a short side third or fourth phase.
“They’re a very dangerous side, so the fear is certainly always there with France.”
Philippe Saint-André’s team will have a strong focus on improving on the performance against Scotland a week ago, with the reaction to that display having been highly negative in France.
Equally, Schmidt and his men will have ambitions of turning in a far better performance on home soil, having done enough to beat Italy in an effective outing at Stadio Olimpico.
“We need to improve on our showing last week, certainly,” said O’Mahony. “I think we were off the pace physically at times, ball carrying needs to come up, so there’s loads of areas for us to work on.”
There must be confidence taken from the fact that three of Ireland’s best rugby players are again included in the starting team, but O’Mahony said this week feels no different to any other during his time as an international player
“The 15 that takes the field on any given weekend is the strongest Ireland team you’re going to get. Injury-wise, it doesn’t matter.
“It’s good to have guys back obviously, some big figures back, but from a personal point of view and preparing, it’s the same as any other week.”
