Irish fear backlash over IRB rankings

6.00pm

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan fears his team could face a backlash over a seemingly innocuous computer programme ranking his side ahead of Australia.

Despite losing 12 of their last 13 clashes with Australia and never making it past the quarter-finals of the World Cup, which the Wallabies have won twice, the International Rugby Board (IRB) listed the Irish ahead of Australia in its inaugural world rankings.

The Irish were rated third in the world, behind England and New Zealand, with the Wallabies a close fourth.

O'Sullivan told reporters on his team's arrival in Sydney today that his side deserved their lofty ranking after winning 15 of their last 17 tests, but he was wary of the repercussions.

"It's the IRB's decision, I didn't make the rankings but we had a pretty good year," O'Sullivan said.

Australia and Ireland are both in Pool A at the World Cup and are due to meet in Melbourne on November 1. The Wallabies have not been at their best this year but O'Sullivan expects them to peak at the World Cup, with the rankings acting as extra motivation.

"Australia are like a wounded animal, they've got something to prove and that makes them a dangerous team," O'Sullivan said.

"They had a season that was below par for them and it was a bit of a disappointment...but they are a dangerous team at the moment."

Ireland, who reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 1987, 1991 and 1995 but lost a playoff to Argentina for a place in the last eight in 1999, face another tough campaign in 2003.

They play their opening match against Romania in Gosford on October 11 then take on Namibia in Sydney eight days later before things start to get a little harder.

Needing to win at least one of their last two games, they tackle the Pumas in Adelaide on October 26 before their final pool game against the Wallabies.

"It's the group of death, there's no about it," O'Sullivan said.

"It's the toughest group in the tournament and the key is to get out of that group if you want to do anything."

- REUTERS

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