Brian O'Driscoll's Diary on how the conditions put paid to Ireland playing a running game against the Namibians

It's difficult to convey just how appalling the conditions were but suffice to say I have never played in wetter weather. The rain was spilling down for the entire match and the only comparison I could make would be with the Ireland-Australia match at Lansdowne Road last November: yesterday was worse than that.

Despite the fact that some players were wearing gloves, the ball we use is very difficult to handle in wet weather and we sort of proved that theory with the number of handling errors. I was really looking forward to this match and so in the aftermath I am just hugely frustrated.

We were all set to play the running rugby, show-the-supporters-the-game type of game we like to play. Leaving our base in Terrigal, the sun was splitting the stones but the closer we got to Sydney the more it clouded over until the heavens opened.

In some respects you were nearly better off not being in possession and that is borne out by the tries we scored from turnovers. There were other contributory factors, principally the fact that they were pretty much offside all evening and, for the most part, weren't picked up for it.

The breakdown area was just a mess and because of the fact the Namibians were loitering offside on many occasions it made it very difficult to establish the platform for which we were looking.

It seems a little churlish to be complaining after we scored 10 tries and, in truth, whether a team scores 10 or 15 doesn't really make any difference. If you hit double figures then you've thumped the opposition.

Of greater significance is the manner in which you first create opportunities and then take them. There were some poor option-taking at times and we might have tagged on another half-a-dozen tries, something we're aware of and we will look to eradicate the errors next time out.

Comparisons between how we fared against Namibia and how Argentina handled them won't make a blind bit of difference come next Sunday: both teams got the win and bonus point.

On a personal level, it was once again a hugely frustrating night.

I thought I did okay against Romania without really seeing too much of the ball in the open spaces I enjoy and it was a pretty similar experience last night.

In those circumstances you have to just grin and bear it, be aware of the mistakes you made and resolve that if you do get chances in the next match to take them.

My "non-try" was a correct decision. I decided to have a cut and go for the corner but in fairness to the tackler he managed to get a hand on the ball and knock it loose as I was sliding for the line.

I was still hoping that the referee might go to the television match official but he voiced his suspicions that I had knocked on and he was right.

The other moment I won't look back on with too much fondness was trying to pick up a loose ball after Maggsie (Kevin Maggs) had slipped. I was patient, I waited as the ball bobbled around but seeing their guy closing down fast I had to try and secure possession. It just slipped from my grasp and as I ran back to midfield the frustration was palpable.

You just have to tell yourself it's one of those nights and just try to focus on the next opportunity.

On occasions it's not what you do with the ball but being able to put others in space that gives satisfaction. Den (Denis Hickie) and Shaggy (Shane Horgan) did extremely well considering the conditions.

The week leading up to the match had not been without its lighter moments, including one at my expense. On the bus back from a training session, Guy Easterby (the judge) said they had a song and, innocently, I thought this would be great.

Unknown to me the programme for the Lansdowne dinner we had attended the previous week had the words to Waltzing O'Driscoll and I was called up to sing the song. It was excruciating. Even from a singing perspective, the chorus isn't too bad but the verses . . . some of the words just made me cringe all the more.

The lads had a great laugh while I just wanted the earth to swallow me up.

I have a very cosy domestic arrangement back at the hotel as I have a room to myself and a door to the adjoining room where Ronan O'Gara and Alan Quinlan reside. If I want to spend a bit of time on my own I have that scope, while the company is there and the three of us have watched several of the matches together.

Quinny is very house proud - Rog and myself wouldn't be that tidy - so leaving empty papers lying round is a big no, no.

Some of the lads went to the set of Home And Away, got some autographs, and a kiss from a couple of the female stars.

One bit of good news I received was Leinster's victory over Connacht. I was delighted for Gary Ella and the boys.

We have achieved what we set out to do in the first two matches but the tournament starts in earnest now. No more mistakes, no slip ups. The big stage beckons.