Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll wants his side to use their November programme to assert themselves against southern-hemisphere opponents and banish any lingering sense of inferiority they may have heading into next year’s World Cup in France.
Ireland lost all three matches on their pre-season tour to New Zealand and Australia but felt they should have returned home with one victory after pushing the All Blacks close in both Tests.
They were comprehensively beaten by the same sides in Dublin last November but one-off wins over the Wallabies and Springboks in recent years indicate they can compete with the southern-hemisphere heavyweights on their day.
Ireland, whose experienced pack is allied to a promising back division, feel they can use this month’s home Tests against South Africa, Australia and the newly formed Pacific Islands to show they can take on any side.
And for British and Irish Lions centre O’Driscoll, there will be no better place to demonstrate the Triple Crown holders’ self-belief than Saturday’s Lansdowne Road clash against the Springboks.
”You can’t expect to win matches straight up; you have to realise that if you play well you will win. That’s what it comes down to,” he said.
”South Africa won’t come here and lie down, allowing us to take over. We have to play well against these sides. They will be confident coming over here as well. The inferiority complex against the southern hemisphere is something we’re trying to put behind us. Whether it’s dead and buried yet we’ll soon see.
”We’ve definitely developed this side over the last two or three years, and I have a feeling we’ve come on from the Six Nations and the summer tour, even though we didn’t win there. There has always been a core of guys who believed they could win those big games, but now there are more guys who believe it.
”It’s when you get that total belief from one to 15 that you do it more consistently and that’s what we need to do — we need to beat these big sides more consistently if we’re to do it in a World Cup.
”Only through experience do sides like Ireland find out how to win. We are getting closer and closer to where we want to be.”
Two years ago Ireland recorded only their second victory over South Africa, using comments from Springbok coach Jake White that only three Ireland players would be good enough to make his squad to fire themselves up to a 17-12 win.
White has not made the same mistake on this trip, but Ireland counterpart Eddie O’Sullivan’s side still find themselves in the unusual position of favourites.
The Springboks, who are using the tour for development purposes, have rested several senior players — but a cautious O’Driscoll said: ”Jake has been very complimentary this week, which is lovely of him.
”South Africa will probably try to push us into the favourites tag, but let’s not forget they beat New Zealand and Australia in their last two matches.” — Sapa-AFP