O'Donovan urges Irish to summon 'big' display

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Few give Ireland any chance of defeating Argentina in the Parc des Princes by the required margin of eight points or more and scoring four tries.

O'Driscoll: needs to inspire

But O'Donovan was bullish, saying: "We haven't become a bad team overnight. We have proved to ourselves over recent years that we are a quality team with quality players. We just have to bring it out of ourselves. There is a big one in this team and I have been impressed with how the lads have rolled up their sleeves and worked very hard.

"They owe themselves more than anyone to play to the best of their ability. I would just like to see them play well and get the win. Anything can happen after that. If we get penalties we should take them to keep the scoreboard ticking because it will give us momentum."

If O'Donovan's confidence seems misplaced, it was a theme among the coaching staff yesterday. Graham Steadman, who had promised sparks before the defeat by France at St Denis, said of Marcelo Loffreda's Argentina: "They are very well drilled and coached, and they are very smart in transition. If they lose possession they flood the passing channels and look for interceptions. They did that against France.

"We have to be careful with our passing channels. These games are always tight. I know we need four tries, but the guys are upbeat about the occasion, so bring it on."

Bizarrely, despite being the forwards coach, O'Donovan, was loath to discuss Ireland's misfiring lineout against France, which, it was felt, may have brought a recall for Rory Best, fit again after dislocating his thumb in the woeful 14-10 win over Georgia.

"Of course the lineout was a problem, but I don't want to make a huge problem out of what happened against one team," said O'Donovan.

"Our average has been very high and the more you talk of it being a problem the more of a problem it becomes.

"We made individual mistakes. A lot can go wrong from the throw to the lift to the jumper, but France were very good and athletic in defence."

IRELAND: Murphy; Horgan, O'Driscoll (capt), D'Arcy, Hickie; O'Gara, Reddan; Horan, Flannery, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Easterby, D Wallace, D Leamy. Subs: Young, O'Kelly, N Best, Boss, P Wallace, Trimble, R Best.

Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand).

TV: Tomorrow, ITV1, 3.45 (kick-off 4.0).