THE SPEED DEMONS

Williams reckons Irish assets could come back to haunt them in France

-  MICHAEL SCULLY

MATT WILLIAMS fears Ireland's greatest strength can be used against them at this World Cup.

Williams believes Ireland's ability to get real pace on their breakdown, what the All Blacks call LBQ - lightning-quick ball - can be an unstoppable attacking force.

"When Ireland get rucks under 1.5 seconds and Jamison GibsonPark's passing puts a pace on the game where the defence can't get organised, and with Johnny Sexton squaring up and they're doing the passes out the back, there's just holes to exploit," said Williams.

"The pace of the ruck ball just starts to accumulate, it builds momentum and the defence can't deal with it quick enough.

"That's where they're absolutely brilliant, and the passing of their tight five forwards - Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne - is equal to international backs standards.