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Bonnaire aware of task ahead
PA Sport
Sunday, September 30, 2007 - 09:15 AM (AEST)
Julien Bonnaire has no doubt France will have to play 'the perfect match' if it ends up facing World Cup favourites New Zealand in Cardiff.
Pool D reaches its conclusion on Sunday when France tackle Georgia in Marseille and Ireland meet Argentina at Parc des Princes.
France's anticipated bonus-point victory over the Georgians could be enough to see it finish top, therefore meeting Scotland or Italy instead at Stade de France in the quarter-finals.
But Argentina only needs one point off struggling Ireland to guarantee first place, which would send France to the Millennium Stadium and an appointment with the All Blacks.
It would also raise the bizarre scenario of a World Cup host nation possibly going out of the tournament some 500 miles away from home.
While France is determined to keep Georgia solely on its minds at present, a dark New Zealand shadow is looming ever closer.
"If we have to play the All Blacks, so be it," back-row forward Bonnaire said. "For one match, anything is possible."
"In any case, at this level of competition we have to give everything in each match. But against the All Blacks, we will have to play the perfect match."
The France-Georgia game will be over before Ireland and Argentina kick off in Paris, guaranteeing the French players an anxious wait before their quarter-final destination is decided.
"Of course we will be supporting Ireland," Bonnaire added.
"Ireland can win, and they have some exceptional players, especially (Brian) O'Driscoll and (Gordon) D'Arcy, who are not at their best, but it still might come."
"Ireland have to take advantage of the lineouts and (Donnacha) O'Callaghan and (Paul) O'Connell form one of the best second-row partnerships in the world."
France coach Bernard Laporte will send out a team at Stade Velodrome captained by flanker Serge Betsen, with flyhalf prospect Lionel Beauxis handed his first tournament start.
David Skrela, France's number 10 in the opening game against Argentina, is fit again and returns among the replacements, with veteran lock Fabien Pelous also on bench duty.
Georgia, arguably the competition's most improved team, pushed Ireland to the limit, gave Argentina a scare and comfortably saw off Namibia, and Bonnaire knows Les Bleus cannot view them as a soft touch.
"We have to be aggressive and combative, because they are solid up-front," he said.
"They are hard to play, and it is going to be difficult to move their pack."
"Saying that, they might be tired having played on Wednesday (against Namibia)."
"We have to start at 100 kilometres an hour like we did against Namibia. We have enjoyed the last two matches, and we have to keep that going."
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