Paul O’Connell has dismissed claims he is set for a move to France, saying he doesn’t know where the rumours came from tat he was set to join French Pro D2 club Pau.

"I don't know anything about it. I don't know where it came from," said O'Connell.

The 35 year old has a contract with the IRFU that runs until 2016 but recent reports in the French media claimed the second row was set for a move to France after the World Cup.

Ex-Munster men James Coughland and Simon Mannix are currently at Pau, and O’Connell speculated that this might have been the root of the speculation.

"I suppose it's the fact that James Coughlan and Simon Mannix are there and I knew them at Munster, but there's been nothing done on my behalf, and nothing done on Pau's behalf anyway.

"I'm contracted until the summer of 2016, so I just don't know where it came from."

O’Connell insisted his focus is on tomorrow’s game against the Wallabies, a game he sees as an opportunity to atone for “the toughest day” of Joe Schmidt’s Ireland reign, when Australia beat Ireland 32-15 at the Aviva last November.

"I think it was our toughest day (under Schmidt)" said O'Connell of last November’s loss.

"There was a lot of excitement when Joe took over.

"I think in that game last year we weren't in the right place.

"In so many aspects of the game they took us apart, and that was the big disappointment in that game,” O’Connell said.