Best: Irish won't panic over warm-up problems

Neil Best insists there is no need to panic as Ireland recover from the “Ultimate Fighting side of rugby” that has marked their World Cup preparations.

The Irish were left battered by two brutal warm-up matches against Bayonne and possible quarter-final opponents Italy.

Coach Eddie O’Sullivan had sought two physical encounters to prepare his side for a gruelling group campaign that includes crunch matches against hosts France and Argentina.

He got more than he bargained for, however, as Ireland were rocked when a punch from Bayonne lock Mikaera Tewhata threatened to end Brian O’Driscoll’s World Cup before it had started.

The suspected fractured cheekbone was later diagnosed as only a fractured sinus, entailing just a three-week lay-off, but the bad-tempered match against the French club had seen the Irish flirt with disaster.

Italy proved more legitimately physical opposition in Friday’s fractious 23-20 victory at Ravenhill and Ireland were able to deliver an encouraging medical bulletin with only Paul O’Connell suffering a minor rib injury.

But the unconvincing 23-20 victory over the Azzurri will have been well received by France and Argentina and has seen bookmakers lengthen Ireland’s odds of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

“These last two warm-up matches have been the ’Ultimate Fighting’ side of rugby,” said Ulster flanker Best.

“Bayonne wasn’t really a rugby match as far as I’m concerned. Of course we’re making mistakes at the moment because it’s the start of the season.

“The trouble is if we make those mistakes in the World Cup we’ll get destroyed so it’s best to get them out of the way now.

“There’s no reason to panic because there’s still plenty of time to get things right between now and the World Cup.

“Italy is a team we beat by 50 points in the Six Nations so we’re not too concerned. Getting beaten in the last match before the World Cup wouldn’t have been great.

“We’re here to improve and need to analyse what went wrong and right so we can make the adjustments we need.”

Best started at openside for both matches, covering for ankle-injury victim and first choice number seven David Wallace.

The big-hitting 28-year-old, who is likely to feature on the bench at the World Cup, won the man of the match award against Italy following a typically committed display marked by several crunching tackles.

“People kept running at me and that’s when it’s so easy. If anybody runs at you, you tackle them,” he said. “When they start jinking in front of you is when it gets difficult.

“I won’t be patting myself on the back too much, I defended well but there are other things I didn’t do well.”

Shane Horgan, who has a knee problem and has been given until September 15th to prove his fitness, O’Driscoll and Wallace are all recovering on schedule.

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