Paris 2024: All Blacks clash 'clears the head' - James Topping

James Topping says Ireland won't spend time basking in their perfect start at the Men’s Sevens event in Paris with a pool-deciding clash against New Zealand on the cards.

The side began their campaign with victories over South Africa and Japan yesterday at the Stade de France and are guaranteed a place in the play-offs.

A win against Tokyo silver medalists New Zealand, who also beat Japan and South Africa, today (3.30pm Irish time, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player) will mean they progress as group winners.

"Yeah [it’s great to be up and running]," the head coach told RTÉ Sport.

"There is that expectation that makes you nervous because they have done so well [this year].

"We’ve got those two games out of the way. We’ve got a game against New Zealand that clears the head.

"We’ve beaten them already in the series this year but the rest of the times they’ve put one over on us so it’s going to be another good test for us."

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Of the 10-15 victory over the Blitzboks and the 40-5 win over Japan, he said: "The performance against South Africa was really good.

"We sort of dominated possession and played the way we want to play.

"We could have had a couple of more scores so that was probably the most pleasing games.

"Then against Japan, they beat us in the World Series two years ago.

"They do rattle you, they are not afraid to come off the line, defend really hard, put lots of pressure on you so we knew that was coming down the line as well.

"It was tough first half, it was only two scores in