O’Driscoll issues rallying call

IRELAND captain Brian O’Driscoll has urged his players to recapture the intensity that helped end England’s Grand Slam dream earlier this year for their World Cup Pool C showdown against Australia on Saturday.

The Tri Nations champions represent the biggest challenge of the Irish qualifying campaign in New Zealand, particularly against the backdrop of a winless pre-season and a laboured victory over the USA in the opening World Cup fixture last Sunday in New Plymouth.

Ireland go into the Eden Park clash as firm underdogs against the Wallabies, who beat Italy 32-6 on Sunday, and so the captain is conjuring memories of the Aviva Stadium in March, when Declan Kidney’s side produced their best performance of the year to defeat the English 24-8.