“We’ll lose the run of ourselves in Ireland, of course.”
Brian O’Driscoll has issued a warning to Ireland after the team’s 13-8 victory over South Africa over Saturday night.
Ireland, the number one ranked team in the world, beat the reigning world champions in an epic battle at the Stade de France, with Mack Hansen scoring the team’s only try of the game.
The result leaves Andy Farrell’s team in pole position to finish top of Pool B, and on course to face New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
Ireland great O’Driscoll, however, has issued a sensible warning to Ireland and the team’s fans after the win.
Brian O’Driscoll gives Ireland timely warning after South Africa win.
Ahead of Ireland’s next match against Scotland in two weeks’ time, O’Driscoll urged caution for the national team.
The former Leinster star has said that, while New Zealand – Ireland’s potential quarter-final opponents – are not a terrifying prospect, they can still get the better of Ireland in a game.
“Looking at that table, it seems unfair that [Scotland] have only played once and Ireland have played once and have 14 points. They have a mountain to climb and serious work to do, to get out of the group,” the ex-Ireland captain said on ITV.
“If Ireland are looking at winning the World Cup, and not thinking of just getting out of the group, they can’t be worried about who they get in the quarter-final and then seeing how things fall.
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“Whatever way things fall and whoever tops the group or whoever comes second we’ll take them on. And I think with both sides we knew it was going to be a tough way through France or New Zealand, but there’s nothing to fear.
“There’s nothing to fear in the New Zealand team anymore, because of the multiple wins over the last eight or 10 years, because this isn’t the best New Zealand team.”
“However, it doesn’t mean that it’s a foregone conclusion, far from it,” O’Driscoll continued.
“This is still New Zealand, they’re still a very smart rugby team, they’re able to pick holes, their intellect will probably cause Ireland more issues than the physicality of South Africa today, which is a strange thing to say, but I would still be nervous of the prospect of taking on any All Black team.
“We’ll lose the run of ourselves in Ireland, of course,” the Ireland legend joked.
“Everyone at home thinks we’re getting to semi-finals and finals now! But this New Zealand team will have a lot to say before that.”
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