KEY POINTS:
PARIS - France flanker Julien Bonnaire has admitted that his team will become temporary Irish fans on Monday (NZ time) as World Cup Pool D reaches a nerve-shredding finale.
The French take on Georgia in Marseille where they are expected to pick-up a victory as well as a bonus point which will guarantee them a last eight place.
But they also want Ireland to defeat group leaders Argentina in Paris, a result which would give the French top spot and avoid the All Blacks in the quarter-finals.
"Of course we will be supporting Ireland," said Bonnaire.
"Ireland can win and 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 line-outs and Donnacha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell form one of the best second rows in the world."
If Argentina win, then France must travel to Cardiff to take on New Zealand for a semi-final place on October 7.
"If we have to play the All Blacks, so be it," said Bonnaire.
"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."
However, France, who lost their opening game to Argentina 17-12 before beating Namibia 87-10 and Ireland 25-3, are wary of the dangers posed by Georgia.
The Georgians gave Ireland a scare before losing 14-10 and then picked up their first World Cup win with a 30-0 defeat of Namibia.
"We have to be aggressive and combative because they are solid up front," said Bonnaire.
"They are hard to play and it's 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 100km an hour like we did against Namibia. We have enjoyed the last two matches and we have to keep that going."
THE SITUATION IN POOL D
All four teams are theoretically in with a chance of qualifying from World Cup Pool D before the two remaining matches on Monday (NZ time), although Georgia are very much a long shot.
Argentina, France, Ireland and also Georgia are fighting for the two qualifying spots.
Only Argentina, France and Ireland can still finish first to advance to a quarter-final against either Scotland or Italy in Paris.
All four teams can still finish second to face a quarter-final against New Zealand in Cardiff.
Remaining fixtures:
Sunday, October 1 France v Georgia, Marseille (2am) Ireland v Argentina, Paris (Parc des Princes) (4am)
Possible scenarios:
1. France win with bonus point
Ireland win with bonus point, no bonus for Argentina:
France 15 points - win group
Ireland 14 - runners-up
Argentina 14
2.France win without bonus point
Ireland win with bonus point, no bonus for Argentina:
France 14
Ireland 14
Argentina 14
Decided on points difference. France almost certain to win group, Ireland must win by 50 points to finish second.
3. France win with bonus point
Ireland win with bonus point, Argentina get bonus point:
Argentina 15 - win group on head-to-head result
France 15 - runners up
Ireland 14
4. France win with bonus point, Ireland beat Argentina, no bonus points.
France 15 - win group
Argentina 14 - runners-up
Ireland 13
5. France win without bonus point, Ireland beat Argentina, no bonus points.
Argentina 14 - win group on head-to-head result
France 14 - runners-up
Ireland 13
6. France win without bonus point, Ireland beat Argentina with only Argentina getting bonus point.
Argentina 15 - win group
France 14 - runners-up
Ireland 13
Other scenarios:
If Argentina win, they win the group.
A France win of any sort combined with Argentina win of any sort will see Argentina win group and France finish runners-up.
In the unlikely event of Georgia beating France, there are further possibilities.
If Georgia beat France with a bonus point and no bonus point for France, Georgia would finish runners-up if Ireland lost without a bonus point to Argentina.
In the above scenario Ireland would need to win or claim two bonus points to finish ahead of France.
- AFP, REUTERS
