Ireland can top their pool and take serious momentum into the knock-out stages if they beat France. They may not have been in that position were it not for Peter O’Mahony.
The Munster forward was one of Ireland’s stand-out players against Italy, last Sunday.
His try-saving tackle on Josh Furno proved crucial in Ireland’s 16-9 victory. O’Mahony was yellow-carded in the final 10 minutes and had to watch the game’s conclusion from the sin-bin.
That incident – the only blemish from a fine outing – is behind him and he is ready to take the fight to the likes of Thierry Dusatoir and Louis Picamoles.
But not too much.
O’Mahony gained an early reputation, for province and country, as a firebrand flanker. For all the aggression he brought to matches, teams often knew they could provoke and distract him.
He has tempered that in recent years but admits it is not a side to his game he will ever completely eradicate.
“You have to find the balance these days, that’s just the way the game’s gone.
“You’ve just got to be simmering but you can’t go overboard… be as close as you can but also be fully-focused.
“Mentally, we’ve got to be totally switched on.
“The more experience you have the more naturally that comes.”
O’Mahony is three years and 34 caps into his Test career but admits he will still have to overcome nerves ahead of Sunday’s clash with France.
“We’re feeling good,” he said. “I think everyone knows we’re in for one of the biggest weeks in all of our lives.
“Nerves are going to come, we’re just trying to keep our heads straight and focused.”
If it comes down to a tight finish or a moment of doubt, O’Mahony may do well to recall some of the inspirational words delivered to the squad by Irish sporting legends – Henry Shefflin, Sonia O’Sullivan, AP McCoy, Barry McGuigan and Niall Quinn – during the week.
O’Mahony said, “It’s a night you’ll never forget. Any question you asked they fired back.
“They were people you would look up to and get out of bed in the middle of the night or early in the morning to watch them race or play, so it was fantastic.”
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