Brian O'Driscoll believes that Ireland will grasp their chance to make history in their quarter-final match with the All Blacks next Saturday.
Japan were confirmed winners of Pool A after their win over Scotland this morning, meaning Ireland will face New Zealand next weekend.
"Coming into this World Cup, they wanted to do what no other Irish team has done. But you have to put that aside now and not worry about it," O'Driscoll said.
"If you let that take grip of you, then you will forget about the job in hand. This is just one 80-minute performance against the All Blacks - there is nothing after this if they don't win.
"It is very easy to get tunnel vision on a game, particularly when you are playing opposition of the All Blacks' quality."
Legacy
The memory of Joe Schmidt's time in charge would be hugely burnished by a win against the All Blacks next weekend, O'Driscoll believes.
"We have talked about Joe Schmidt's legacy, and whether it will be dependent on it will be getting to a semi-final. Well, it has just got tougher going via the All Blacks.
"But imagine if they did do it. Imagine his legacy and how it would grow by doing it the hard way."
"If Ireland can produce a huge performance, what team would want to get them? It isn't this big green machine that Stuart Barnes was saying.
"It hasn't been firing like we have seen over the last couple of years, but if you can get them to that level of accuracy that claimed the number one spot in the world then they can make themselves a difficult team to beat."
Tight game against All Blacks
O'Driscoll feels that Ireland's form and the All Blacks' quality means that the match will be very tight, particularly given Ireland's tournament showings so far.
"If we are to win, it will be a one-score game. I am waiting to see what the Joe Schmidt nuances will be.
"We saw one against them in Dublin where the Jacob Stockdale try was the difference between them. That little switch-play down the blindside, [in] manipulating the defence and getting Ben Smith out of position.
"Expect something like that again. Joe will be able to think around the game-plan and what tactics to use. You just have to get the mental side of the game right and the physical part will follow.
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