Ireland’s struggle against Namibia has served as a wake-up call

IRELAND’S struggle against Namibia proved the importance of maintaining focus in the Pool of Death of this Rugby World Cup.

And the performance of Eddie O’Sullivan’s side on Sunday night has acted as a wake-up call of sorts for us ahead of this evening’s game against Georgia.

Prior to the tournament, all the talk revolved around France, Ireland and Argentina battling to take the two top spots in the group. As a result the Irish were not in the proper mind-set for their opening and almost paid the ultimate price.

It would be all too easy for us to get carried away by the emotion of Friday night’s win over France. Watching Ireland struggle in Bordeaux is the perfect antidote to any hints of complacency in our squad.

Georgia are a big physical side, and it is certainly not the type of confrontation which we are relishing four days after a bruising encounter in Paris.

It is most unfair for us to play a second game within a four day spell. Apparently there are two sets of rules in this World Cup: the top teams get a break from week to week, while the others have to struggle through with little or know time to recover.

Rugby is not like football where you can play a couple of games or more every week. Rugby is a tough, confrontational game. Our dressing room after the French game was proof of that theory.

We put in something like 120 tackles during the French game. I don’t think we could possibly do the same four days later. That’s why I think rugby games should be played on a week to week basis only.

Some countries might have the luxury of being able to change the team around fully in such a short space of time, but most of the participants can’t do that.

I’m a doubt for tonight’s game after cramping up in kicking practice yesterday. I’ll rest as best I can today and hope for the best.

But there is one positive to be taken from our quick return to action because the win over France, no matter how good and well received back home, is put into perspective. We didn’t have a chance to celebrate and maybe in the past, we might have celebrated too much had that happened!

We went out for a couple of hours, had a bit of a celebration but then went home to bed to recover.

We’re not the only ones feeling sore today though. Ireland won’t be happy with their start to the tournament against Namibia. Despite the negative reaction from inside and outside the camp I wouldn’t write off the Irish despite the fact that they didn’t play well.

Brian O’Driscoll was making his return, David Wallace was back after a long spell on the sidelines, and they were bound to be a bit ring-rusty in a game they were expected to win with ease.

How will they react? This near miss could make Ireland a more dangerous proposition in the weeks ahead.