Brian O'Driscoll has called on Ireland to show the type of intensity they hope to bring to the World Cup when they run out to face France at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. The Irish Independent's Hugh Farrelly reports.
"O'Driscoll leads a side that shows 10 changes from the one that lost 19-12 to the French in Bordeaux and, after missing the first two warm-up internationals through injury, is delighted to be back and keen to lay down a marker for New Zealand.
"It's great to be back," he said. "It's always difficult sitting out Test matches. I never like missing out and this will be a special occasion.
"There is certainly an onus on trying to win, definitely, but it's also about game time and getting up to speed. We have to have the right mentality, so the intensity and physicality has to be there. We need to treat this as anything but a friendly, try to stamp our authority and play the brand of rugby we hope to play at the World Cup."
Ireland have a solitary win from their last 11 matches against the French and O'Driscoll accepted they have found France tough opponents."
RSS feed
