Ireland winger Simo Zebo seeks open game with France

Winger Simon Zebo believes an open game against France will aid Ireland's bid to avoid New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Munster flyer Zebo has admitted he faces a dogfight to retain a starting place against his "second country" France in Cardiff on Sunday, with fit-again Rob Kearney likely to return at full-back.

Jared Payne was expected to train fully on Wednesday and therefore contest selection for Sunday's Pool D decider, the centre apparently winning his battle against a heavily-bruised foot.

Zebo admitted his French heritage plays into his sense of attacking adventure, the 25-year-old Cork native's father Arthur hailing from Martinique - and backed Ireland to match Les Bleus' broken-field verve if required this weekend.

"This will be a very physical game I'd say, it will come down to small margins, the little errors will be costly - but if it opens up, then all the better," said Zebo.

"I think we've an extremely talented pack that will give us momentum hopefully, and a great backline to run off it.

"We've all the confidence in our own team to mix it with them if it gets loose.

"But we'll still just make sure we do everything in preparation to be as ready as we can become this weekend.

"I'd say my background does come into my style of play, my family would be very expressive, and I think you can see it in my personality and my character that I play the way I am behind closed doors.

"So I just go out, try to enjoy myself and execute the skills to try to help the team.

"I've played against France before so the surprise element to it is gone, and my family is the same, it's not as special as it was the first time.

"But if selected it would be a great occasion to play against my second country.

"I haven't spoken to my dad much this week, but I think he will have his Irish jersey on this weekend!"