O’Driscoll: We have learned from 2007

With the Irish camp getting accustomed to the sights, temperatures and facilities of Queenstown, Brian O’Driscoll insists the squad have learnt from their disappointing 2007 World Cup campaign.

Ireland will be expected to ease past Group C opponents USA and Russia, ranked 18th and 19th in the world respectively, but the Irish captain knows that in a World Cup, no victory comes easily.

“We learnt in 2007 that there are no pushover Test matches,” he said.

“We had it hard against a couple of lesser-known international nations (in Namibia and Georgia).

“We certainly won't be taking anything for granted.

“We'll focus on our first game and take it from there.”

Focus may now be on the USA clash on September 11 but Declan Kidney and his squad will know that the second match against Tri Nations champions Australia could prove the group decider.

In stark contrast to Ireland, the Wallabies enter the World Cup in brilliant form and the Leinster centre is under no illusions about the threat they pose.

“Australia are ranked second in the world and are going to be huge and a very tough team to beat,” he admitted.

“They will be on a high. They're Tri Nations champions and have had a good couple of weeks in the lead-up to the World Cup.

“But we play America first and expect them to be full on.”

With Ireland suffering four straight defeats and falling from fourth to eighth in the World Rankings, O’Driscoll is keen to look beyond recent performances to the main event, which he hopes to be involved in from the start.

“We're not bringing any scars from the last month with us, it's all about the start of the World Cup.

“The shoulder feels okay. I was training away earlier, though granted we didn't do too much contact.

“The more rest time I get, the better.

“At this moment in time I don't see any reason why I won't be playing against the USA.