O'Sullivan tips All Blacks

O'Sullivan believes there is too much pressure on Australia

New Zealand will beat Australia when they meet in the World Cup semi-finals, according to Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

He said the "pressure cooker" atmosphere surrounding the world-champion Wallabies was not helping their cause ahead of the meeting in Sydney on Saturday.

"I believe that New Zealand will come though, based on form," said O'Sullivan.

"There won't be much in it, but I think New Zealand still have something in the tank, something else to give, and they haven't played their best game at the tournament.

"They (Australia) have created a pressure-cooker situation for themselves," added O'Sullivan, who admitted he was stunned by the negative reaction from Australians to their team even though the Wallabies were winning.

"The pressure on the players is just phenomenal and it is working against them," he said.

"They're as good as anyone else in the world but they're being suffocated by the expectations of the country."

O'Sullivan's Ireland team will head home on Monday after losing 43-21 to France in the last eight.