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LYON - An unexpectedly early return by Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll has given his team a welcome lift ahead of Sunday's World Cup clash with Namibia in Bordeaux and created more problems for the struggling Africans.
O'Driscoll was expected to miss his country's opening Pool D match after fracturing his sinus three weeks ago but was cleared to play after making a swift recovery.
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan said he had no hesitation picking O'Driscoll and expected his return would inspire the team to raise their game after an indifferent lead-up to the tournament.
"He is keen to get back at it. It has been a frustrating season for him and he has had a messy build-up to the World Cup," O'Sullivan told a news conference.
"It is great to have him back. He is the captain and it is a boost.
"It was always a concern the injury would not heal in time for him to play, but it's great he's got the all-clear now."
O'Driscoll's selection is bad news for Namibia, who have never won a match at the World Cup and are the lowest ranked team in this year's tournament.
Although the Irish are overwhelming favourites to win the match, O'Sullivan picked his strongest available side and has ordered them to try to demolish the Africans, who were thrashed 142-0 by Australia four years ago.
"My head set was to go as strong as you could. Everyone wants to put their best foot forward for the opening match. Our players are almost at the point of frustration they're so keen to get started," O'Sullivan said.
"It is a tight group and there is a chance that Ireland, France and Argentina will each lose a game and the games against Namibia and Georgia create an opportunity to create a points' difference.
"This is an issue that not every team has to deal with. It is on the back of our minds. If we lose a game the points' difference is important."
O'Driscoll said it was a real bonus to return early.
"I definitely need time on the pitch and I'm just glad to be back playing again," he said.
"We want to throw down a marker against Namibia and show everyone what we can do. We're fortunate in that we are playing Namibia and Georgia before we meet France.
"The really good sides take the weaker sides apart, and that's what we intend to do."
Namibia, whose team is mostly made up of amateur players, are resigned to defeat against the Irish, conceding they had no hope of beating the professionals.
"It is difficult. It is like taking me and putting me in Wimbledon to play Roger Federer," Namibia coach Hakkies Husselman said.
"We need to pick up our levels 100 per cent and that is not possible. We will play well for 60 minutes, but then we hit the wall."
Namibia beat Ireland twice in 1991 when all international teams were amateur and captain Kees Lensing, one of the team's few South African-based professionals, said the current team were hpoing to draw inspiration from those matches.
"I was only just starting to learn rugby then and remember when Namibia beat Ireland. But it was all a long time ago and now they are professional and Namibian rugby is far behind them," Lensing said.
"This is the third time we've qualified for a World Cup and we've never won a game at a World Cup. We want to beat Georgia but we will give our all against Ireland."
- REUTERS
