O'Sullivan - tipped the French (Getty Images).

By Alex Lowe, PA Sport, Melbourne

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Eddie O'Sullivan has predicted Ireland's World Cup conquerors France will sweep all before them to win the Webb Ellis Trophy, beating New Zealand in the final.

Ireland were suffocated out of their quarter-final yesterday by a relentless display of total rugby from the French side, and O'Sullivan does not believe any team in the world will be able to deal with a repeat performance.

Newly-retired captain Keith Wood is not quite as certain as his coach that France will beat England in this Sunday's semi-final - but both agree if it comes down to it Les Bleus will beat the All Blacks to become world champions.

"I think France can beat England, and I think England know it," said O'Sullivan.

"England have the potential to beat anyone in the world but at the moment don't seem to be in the right zone.

"The French are, so if the French bring that form into the next round - and I think they will - they will turn England over."

O'Sullivan feels New Zealand are yet to play their best game of the tournament - "there is still something in the tank, something to give" - but the All Blacks' form will still be too hot for the stuttering Wallabies in their semi-final.

"Coming down to it, France v New Zealand in the final, I'd still back France. I think they can do it, I think they believe they can do it," he said.

"It's a very unusual French team. It's persistent, organised, focused, aggressive - and they play rugby on top of that.

"Maybe I'm coloured by the fact they have beaten us - that's a possibility - but I still think this is a very special French team."

Wood stresses England ought not to be written off just yet, even though their World Cup performances have borne little resemblance to the dominant displays of the last two years.

But each time they have done enough to win, as when beating Wales yesterday despite losing the try count three to one - and Wood believes that is an important factor.

"I am not so certain France will beat England," he said.

"England have been pressurised in two or three of their last games and haven't been as fluid as they would have liked.

"But equally they have won the game, and you will take a win by a point playing badly until the time comes when you spark.

"If they spark in the semi-final and play to their full potential I think it would be very hard for France to beat them.

"Having said that, France were irresistible yesterday. I agree with Eddie if France get to the final; I think they have a bit of a jinx on New Zealand."

Wood began his first day of retirement by turning up to a swim he thought was compulsory, only to discover most of his team-mates were nursing headaches after a night spent partying with the fans.

While Wood will take a holiday, O'Sullivan returns home to Ireland tomorrow and will start planning for the future and a looming Six Nations campaign without his captain.

O'Sullivan will continue to look to Down Under for hints over how Ireland can improve, particularly with regard to recruitment, but he dismisses the Wallabies' World Cup chances.

"It is not that the players are not good enough," he said.

"It is that the public expectation is 'strangling' the team."