O’Sullivan rules out revenge mission
Much of the pre-match build-up to this Lansdowne Road Test has focused on the need to even the score with the Pumas following painful defeats at the 1999 Word Cup and in Buenos Aires the following year.
But O’Sullivan said: ‘‘We’re not into grudges, we’re into playing rugby. Of course we’ve lost two games to Argentina in a row and we wouldn’t like to go 0-3 against them.
‘‘But wanting is not enough. It’s all about going out and Saturday and putting the right game plan in place and executing it, both with and without the ball.
‘‘There’s no point in getting hung up about what happened two years ago. It won’t matter. Once the ball is kicked off it’s all about performance.
‘‘No-one is going to be thinking back to Buenos Aires or Lens. It’s all about Lansdowne Road on Saturday at 4.30pm.
The Ireland coach and his assistant Declan Kidney have been very impressed with Argentina’s recent form, with last Saturday’s win over Italy in Rome the most recent example of the Pumas’ rise in stature.
‘‘They were excellent,’’ O’Sullivan said. ‘‘There were very difficult conditions, very windy, and once they broke Italy they really punished them.
‘‘They’ve lots of pace in the backs and they’re a very accomplished side. I don’t think anybody who takes on Argentina now would do so lightly, including New Zealand, or Australia or England. They’re right up there.’’
Kidney added: “It’s not just a case of them being physical up front. Their counter attack is one of the best in the world and defensively they’re also very physical across the pitch.
‘‘There are a few of us trying to break into the top five and I’d say we’re neck and neck with them. We’re really playing a team of our peers and that’s the challenge.’’
Brian O’Driscoll will lead Ireland for the third successive time at Lansdowne Road but wants Keith Wood back in the fray before Ireland begin the countdown to the World Cup.
“It has been easy enough because I, as captain, was involved in two winning sides but it doesn’t get any easier and I will welcome Keith back with open arms. I am just filling in for the moment and I have no problem relinquishing the role when he gets back to full fitness.”
And O’Sullivan is in no doubt Wood will be back to full fitness early in 2003: “It has been a bit difficult for him and for me. In 13 matches, Keith has only played four. But it is important for him to get it right. There was no point in him forcing things. It wouldn’t be good for him, for Harlequins or for Ireland.
“He played a game a couple of weeks ago but just didn’t feel right. He made the correct decision to stand back, give himself time to fully recover and allow us to get on with things.
“His absence has positives and negatives. We want Keith to be part of this team because he is such a top class player. On the other hand, it has given us a chance to experiment and give other players exposure to top class fixtures.”
O’Driscoll feels confident ahead of today’s clash. At any rate, there won’t be a lack of desire: “We have something to prove to ourselves and to Argentina. It would be wrong to say that we have forgotten about Lens or about Buenos Aires.
“The last couple of games against Argentina have been very disappointing from our point of view but, let there be no mistake, they are a very good side. I reckon the two teams are in the same position in terms of world rugby. We are both improving sides but still a little off the pace to beat the best teams on a regular basis. From an Irish viewpoint, I would like to think we could beat Argentina and then we would really know a little bit more about where we stand in terms of progress.”
*Past games between Ireland and Argentina.
1952: Ireland 3 Argentina 3 (Buenos Aires); Ireland 6 Argentina 0 (Buenos Aires)
1970: Argentina 8 Ireland 3 (Buenos Aires); Argentina 6 Ireland 3 (Buenos Aires)
1973: Ireland 21 Argentina 8 (Dublin)
1990: Ireland 20 Argentina 18 (Dublin)
1999: Argentina 28 Ireland 24 (RWC, Lens)
2000: Argentina 34 Ireland 23 (Buenos Aires).
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