O'Driscoll: Minnows handling rough stuff

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Former Ireland skipper Keith Wood was among the voices outlining their fears that a player from the tournament minnows could be hurt by a bone-crunching challenge during a mis-match against a professional team.

But so far the likes of Namibia, Portugal and Georgia have acquitted themselves well with some rousing displays.

They have allayed worries over the number of maulings that would take place in the pool stages.

Ireland face another potentially-hazardous clash against one of Test rugby's developing sides when they meet Georgia in Bordeaux tomorrow.

After struggling to dispatch Namibia last Sunday, O'Driscoll insists the 'Lelos' will not be taken lightly with patience the key to securing another bonus-point victory. He added: "We thought that the group might have come a bit of easier than it did.

"But we've seen throughout the whole of this World Cup that everyone has found it difficult in the first 40 or 50 minutes against the perceived minnows.

"England struggled against the United States and even Australia found it tough against Japan in the first half hour.

"Some of the smaller sides have been impressive. You just have to hold your patience and try to wear teams down.

"In the last 20 minutes you hope to take your opportunities when teams open up a bit more.

"You don't win Test matches in 20 minutes no matter who you're playing against - unless you're the All Blacks maybe!"