Louis Picamoles of France takes on Anthony Watson of England during the QBE International match between England and France at Twickenham

Former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman has warned that the French team Joe Schmidt's men will meet in the World Cup will be completely different to the uninspired sides encountered in the Six Nations for the past four seasons.

Ireland have not lost to Les Bleus since 2011 but Jackman, the head coach of Top 14 side Grenoble, warned that the French are building up a head of steam for the World Cup and will have a different mindset to what we have seen in recent years.

France dominated England in Paris on Saturday to win 25-20, with only a couple of late tries by the visitors serving to camouflage a very impressive display by Philippe Saint-Andre's men.

Jackman said that it is a worry that the French are coming into form ahead of what looks like being the pool decider when they clash with Ireland at the Millennium Stadium on October 11.

"What we need to understand as Irish people is that when France played the Six Nations in recent years there was a lot of negativity, a lot of criticism, and unhappiness from Saint-Andre about the level of game-time players were having with their clubs," said Jackman.

"There was always this sense that they were too tired to play well for France in the Six Nations, but there is a huge amount of positivity now and the French always back themselves to do well in World Cups.

"And they have always done well in the World Cup, whereas we haven't. That's the reality - indeed France should have won the last World Cup, even though they were in turmoil the whole way through."

Jackman has noticed a big mood swing on the ground, with the French public rowing in behind the team.

Two weeks ago around 5,000 turned up to watch an open training session in Perpignan at 9.30am on a Thursday.

"They are quietly confident they can beat Ireland. Last year they didn't have a goal-kicker, and let's not forget they missed four easy kicks in the Aviva," said Jackman. "And in the last five minutes we were hanging on, and we were a team everyone was saying everything was perfect and they were a team who weren't happy.

"But they are happy now, they have had a really good pre-season, they are in good shape. The big worry for me was their scrum was very powerful.

"If Saint-Andre gives Morgan Parra the licence to run the team, they are going to be in a lot better shape than last year when they were chopping and changing their nines and tens.

"So, France are dangerous; we will have to be on the money to beat them."

France yesterday left out-half Francois Trinh-Duc out of their World Cup squad, with Frederic Michalak preferred.

Jackman's Grenoble side made a winning start to the Top 14 campaign on Saturday when beat Agen 38-23.

Elsewhere, Ronan O'Gara's Racing Metro scored a 27-22 win away to Toulon, although Paul O'Connell was one of 18 internationals not available to the European champions.

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