A win will mean Joe Schmidt’s men top the Pool D table and earn themselves a, theoretically, easier quarter-final - avoiding favourites New Zealand for the moment.

Peter O’Mahony isn’t underestimating the size of the task ahead of them this weekend, but said this is what they have been preparing for for two years now.

Video by Dan Linehan.

“It's certainly the biggest game I've ever played in, we've got to stick to our gameplan,” he said today after the team announcement. “We've bought into Joe's plan over the last two years.

“We've been together in this camp for more than three months.

“If we haven't bought into it now, and if we don't believe now, then when are we going to start?”

He was asked about the challenge posed by French flanker Thierry Dusautoir.

“He's certainly one of the best sevens to ever play the game, there's no doubting that,” O’Mahony answered.

“You've just got to be there as fast as you can, and be as accurate as you can.”

O’Mahony is all too aware of French strength in many areas and believes Ireland will have to do everything right to win.

“Ben Arous and Bastareaud are also very strong over the ball too.

“So we've got to be at the breakdown early, and be right when we're there.”

He was guarded when asked if Head coach Jow Schmidt had any tricks up his sleeve for Sunday’s game.

“We've a game plan we're going to stick to and we're going to try our best to implement,” O'Mahony said.

“You get your play-sheet during the week and get your work done, and when it comes to Sunday you just put your head down.

“We've got to go up two or three levels this week.”

Breakingnews.ie reporter Shaun Cronin talks to Irish Examiner rugby correspondent Simon Lewis about the team selection. Video by Dan Linehan.