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Hugo Keenan hopes Ireland\u2019s statement win against South Africa has eased \u201clurking\u201d pressure of playing at Stade de France as they prepare for up to four more crunch World Cup fixtures at the venue.<\/p>\n
Full-back Keenan revealed his partner thought he looked ill due to nerves ahead of Saturday\u2019s thrilling 13-8 success over the reigning champions.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old\u2019s only other Test outings in Paris ended in costly Six Nations defeats to France in 2020 and 2022.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Cxn0auJsXql<\/p>\n
But Andy Farrell\u2019s men ended their hoodoo at the home of French rugby to take control of Pool B moving towards a pivotal group-stage finale against Scotland on October 7.<\/p>\n
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Ireland\u2019s World Cup destiny will be decided in Saint-Denis \u2013 the showdown with the Scots will also be staged there \u2013 in addition to each of their potential knockout matches, including the final.<\/p>\n
Tournament debutant Keenan was riddled with anxiety at the prospect of arguably the biggest match of his career before helping to snap his country\u2019s Paris losing streak.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, I was nervous, I met my girlfriend briefly (beforehand) and she thought I looked sick,\u201d he said of facing the Springboks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt good once I got out there; it\u2019s a pressure environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cStade de France hasn\u2019t been kind to us in the past. There\u2019s a pressure lurking that we were keen personally and as a team from that loss to France last year to learn from.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just going to review this game and focus on Scotland; it\u2019s the only thing we can control and we\u2019re definitely not getting ahead of ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Keenan\u2019s second international cap was a 35-27 away loss to Les Bleus, which wiped Ireland out of title contention in the protracted 2020 Six Nations.<\/p>\n
The Leinster player has been an almost ever-present since his Test debut and was part of the team ultimately denied a Grand Slam by a 30-24 defeat in the French capital in February last year.<\/p>\n
While the second of those setbacks occurred in front of a partisan home crowd following a behind-closed-doors clash amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ireland were roared on to victory against the Springboks by tens of the thousands of travelling Irish fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cJeez, that support was incredible,\u201d said Keenan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Irish crowd are amazing: the numbers, the amount of people who made the effort to get over here and support us \u2013 it made some difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to harness it at the right times and I think the forwards did.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure South Africa felt under the cosh at times when the 60-odd-thousand Irish fans are cheering for us, it does make a difference.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThere\u2019s times you have to ignore it during play and just do your job, but you also have to embrace it and make the most of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe walkaround after the game was incredibly special, I saw some familiar faces which makes it extra cool.\u201d<\/p>\n