O'Sullivan Laments "Unforced Errors" Despite Opening Win

Ireland 32 Namibia 17

Ireland's Rugby World Cup got off to a shaky start on Sunday as they struggled to overwhelm Namibia in Bordeaux.

While they scored three tries in the first-half, courtesy of O'Driscoll, Trimble and Easterby, leaving them with a 20-3 half-time lead, they struggled in the second-half to put the game away.

Describing the game as "our worst performance for a long time," coach Eddie O'Sullivan was hoping to stamp his team's mark in what should have been an easy opener. Instead, he has some work to do to prepare the men in green for the crunch games against France and Argentina.

O'Driscoll opened the scoring in the fourth minute after exploiting a breakdown in the African's defence.

Despite this good start, the Namibians settled in and made it increasingly difficult for the Irish break them down.

Ronan O'Gara set up Ireland's second try of the game, cleverly faking a penalty, turning it into a perfect cross-field kick to Andrew Trimble who dived over the line.

Just after the half-hour mark, Simon Easterby extended Ireland's lead to 20 points when continued pressure on the Namibian line allowed Simon Easterby to stretch the ball in for another try.

The Namibians pulled the score back to 20-3 just before the half-time whistle when the Irish were penalised for holding on at the breakdown.

Ireland started the second-half well, being awarded a penalty try in the 46th minute when referee Joel Hutge after the Namibians continually infringed at a close-range scrum.

Despite the lead, Ireland's players were unable to extend their lead further, unforced errors being the story of the day.

On the hour mark, Namibia took advantage of the swing in momentum., with Witbooi taking advantage of a gap in the Irish defence to run the ball over the line from the 22-yard line. With Wessels' conversion the Namibian deficit was reduced to 27-10.

Two minutes later, they were within ten points, after center Piet van Zyl scored an excellent try after hacking on and gathering the ball himself. Ireland were able to hang on though and, despite their poor performance they find themselves at the head of the "Pool of Death."

After the game, Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan was scathing of his team's performance saying that, "We were very, very poor and I can't remember when we last made so many unforced errors."

"We conceded 39 turnovers - that's double our average. If we do that against a top team, it could prove catastrophic," he conceded.

"They played well, I'm not taking that away from them, but we didn't make it hard for them out there. If you keep coughing up the ball, the opposition will rise to it. That's sloppy football."

"It's ironic we're top of the group because it feels more like a wake at the moment."

When asked if he was contemplating making any changes for the Georgia game, he said that, "We'll have a look at it in more detail, but we're not going to slash and burn. The players know they let themselves down. I don't think we'll play that badly again,"

The one piece of good news for Irish fans is that first-choice wing Shane Horgan has completed a rigorous rehabilitation program on his injured knee and will be available for selection on Saturday.

Scorers:
Ireland: Tries: O'Driscoll, Trimble, Easterby, Flannery (penalty try); Cons: O'Gara 2; Pens: O'Gara
Namibia: Tries: Nieuwenhuis, Van Zyl; Cons: Wessels 2; Pens: Wessels