O’Sullivan angered by training mix-up

CONFUSION over training times has left Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan fuming ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup quarter-final after his team’s Telstra Dome training yesterday was rescheduled and shortened.

Ireland were originally scheduled to train from 2pm to 5pm at the venue for tomorrow's clash against France, but then altered that plan to start at 10am a move within the World Cup rules.

However, by then New Zealand had been given the vacant 10am to 1pm slot, which led to frantic phone calls to organise who would train when.

The result was a compromise, with Ireland starting at 9.30am and New Zealand at 12 noon, but O'Sullivan was unimpressed.

"We had a bit of a row over it last night," he said, admitting he was "annoyed" at the situation.

Ronan O'Gara had his final place-kicking session interrupted by an official who told him that "New Zealand will be here in 15 minutes, and you've got to be gone before they arrive".

Irish forwards coach Niall O'Donovan was present at the time, but his protests were in vain.

"Out you go," was the message, and the incident left the Irish camp fuming.

"We had to cut back on the team run and kickers to get out in that time. We were stunned when we asked for our team run, that the All Blacks had it.

"Losing the half hour, I had to make a decision viz-a-viz how much time I took off the team run and how much time off the kickers. Ireland will be the only team in the quarter-finals not to get the three hours they are allowed," O'Sullivan said.

He added: "You need your block of time. The schedule was based on the premise of having a team run which lasts 1 hour 45 minutes, some transition time and an hour for the kickers. Here we are on the eve of probably the most important game in Irish rugby history, and it is a bit frustrating. I am very annoyed about it."

However, RWC press officer Chris Rea was unimpressed with O'Sullivan trying to shunt the blame onto the tournament organisers, saying the clash was created by the late decision of Ireland to take the earlier time slot.

"I'm not too happy that Eddie O'Sullivan is blaming RWC for something which has come about because of Ireland's decisions," Rae said. "We've moved heaven and earth to get them in for when they want."