Rugby World Cup 2015: French say All Blacks favourites in 'huge' match

France players react after letting in an Ireland try at Cardiff today. Photo / Brett Phibbs

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre says the All Blacks are favourites for the quarter-final clash between the two old World Cup rivals on Sunday.

Both Saint-Andre and skipper Thierry Dusautoir were extremely disappointed at the team's performance after their 24-9 defeat to Ireland at the Millennium Stadium - the first time they have lost to the Irish in a World Cup - but know only too well they are not out of it yet.

"New Zealand are favourites but in a game of rugby you never know," said Saint-Andre.

"What is important for us is to stick together and to accept that today we didn't perform well. We have to be ready for a huge, huge, huge game against the All Blacks."

He added: "Ireland deserved to win, so no, we don't have a choice [of opponents]. We know it's a tough game but we're not out of the competition. We need to get the spirit back and prepare to play much, much better than we did today."

Dusautoir, who scored a try in his team's famous quarter-final victory over the All Blacks at the Millennium Stadium eight years ago, just as he did in the 8-7 defeat in the final at Eden Park four years ago, looked like a man keen for a challenge.

"I have played 11 or 12 times against the All Blacks and not once was I in the favourites but that did not stop France from beating them," he said. "Last time in the World Cup we were very close to beating them so the most important thing first of all is to digest the disappointment because that's the main feeling tonight."

Dusautoir, named man of the match in the 2011 final before taking out player of the tournament, added: "We're extremely disappointed. At halftime we were still able to win because we were only down by three points... but then it's true that we did not have enough continuity. There were a lot of handling errors and we were not good enough in the rucks."

Asked if he would offer advice to his teammates about beating the All Blacks in a World Cup, Dusautoir said: "Every match is different. It was a different context in 2007, a different team. This team today has a different history, a different experience... we don't need always to look back at what others did eight years ago."

Saint-Andre added: "It was extremely intense [tonight]. No one was pretending, so we need time to refresh mentally and physically and then, you know, everything is always possible. We have a big challenge, perhaps the biggest challenge, in this World Cup.

Ireland were well worth their win, but face Argentina in their quarter-final on Monday morning with several players in doubt. Skipper Paul O'Connell was taken off on a stretcher with a hamstring tear, blindside flanker Peter O'Mahony was likewise with a knee or ankle problem, and first-five Jonny Sexton has an adductor injury.

Added to their problems is a possible citing for outstanding flanker Sean O'Brien for a possible striking incident against France lock Pascal Pape.

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said of a possible citing and ban: "It's not for me to determine.

It's not a closed fist. I'd be hopeful... considering the dressing room at the moment with the amount of injuries we have, we can ill afford to lose another player, particularly a player of Sean's experience and standing in the group."

Stand-in skipper and No8 Jamie Heaslip said of the brutal match: "I don't know what it was like to look at... but it felt like a dogfight at times; a real slugfest between the two packs and then it was blown right open by both sets of backs playing some expansive rugby. The ball was going end to end at times."

- Patrick McKendry in Cardiff