IF IRISH nerves were jangling after the very disappointing August warm-up phase, the performances of underdogs Tonga, Japan and Romania against the technically superior outfits of New Zealand, France and Scotland in their opening World Cup contests on Saturday had the squad on red alert.

USA coach Eddie O’Sullivan appears to have hammered home the message that emotions must not ground his Eagles when they take on Ireland on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

USA head coach Eddie O’Sullivan last night said he believed he had picked his strongest available squad for the World Cup.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN’S USA will face Ireland in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

The United States booked a place at Rugby World Cup 2011 with a 27-6 second-leg victory over Uruguay in Florida.

Eddie O’Sullivan has called for regular top-flight competition for his USA Eagles following successive Test defeats for his new charges.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney urged his players not to be too despondent after they endured a frustrating Setanta Challenge Cup encounter with the USA in Santa Clara, California.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has played down talk of personal rivalry between himself and his predecessor, new USA coach Eddie O’Sullivan, ahead of their sides’ meeting in Santa Clara, California tomorrow.

Eddie O’Sullivan and Declan Kidney, Irish rugby’s two most successful coaches of the professional era, will go head to head in Santa Clara, California on Sunday as a youthful Ireland wind up their summer tour against O’Sullivan’s USA Eagles.

South Africa 64 United States 15

Ireland A opened their Barclays Churchill Cup campaign with a comfortable victory as they ran four tries past the United States in San Francisco.

USA captain Dave Hodges, now fully recovered from injury, will lead the Eagles in the World Cup next month Down Under.