O'Sullivan likely to keep the faith

Eddie O'Sullivan will announce his team to face Georgia tomorrow afternoon, fully aware that if the side he puts out performs like the one that narrowly edged out Namibia last night, Ireland's World Cup campaign could be over embarrassingly early.

The coach is unlikely to tinker with the line-up too much after news today of a clean bill of health, despite knocks to the key trio of Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara and prop Marcus Horan. Winger Shane Horgan is also available for selection after recovering from a knee injury and he will take full part in training this week.

The captain will be monitored during the week but a trapped nerve in his elbow will not rule him out of the Saturday's game.

O'Gara and Horan, another two players that Ireland can ill-afford to lose in the campaign, are nursing a bruised foot and a back injury respectively.  O'Gara is expected to take full part in training tomorrow but Horan is more of a concern and will sit it out.  The Munster prop has "muscular bruising" but is still on target to face Georgia.

The starting XV in the 32-17 win over Namibia was as close as O'Sullivan could get to what he views as his strongest side at the tournament, with Horgan the only notable absentee.

Andrew Trimble deputised in his absence and was far from the worst offender in a performance billed as the worst in O'Sullivan's six year reign. The Ulster back was even on hand to score a trademark Horgan try from an O'Gara cross-field kick.

Nevertheless, when on form, Horgan is one of Ireland's most valuable assets and his power and handling skills were sorely missed last night.

With the abject failure of his side to 'hit the ground running' against Namibia, and the need to establish some continuity in their game, O'Sullivan is likely to give them another chance against opposition that on paper are better than Namibia but still well out of Ireland's league.

"I was a bit shocked when I looked at the tape of the game but I was more frustrated and annoyed than anything. And so were the team," said the coach today. "Absolutely, I'm concerned by the way we played. In the first game of the tournament you want to put on a better performance than that.

"It was very bad by any standards. I don't think we can play that badly again - I hope not anyway.

"But we need to keep a steady ship here. We're not going to start making wholesale changes all of a sudden. The team that took the field against Namibia is not a bad Irish team - it just played badly. That's an important factor to remember."

Of the possible changes. there is an argument to be made for the inclusion of Jerry Flannery, after the Munster hooker scored Ireland's fifth try as a 60th minute replacement for Rory Best, who was not at his best especially in his lineout delivery.

Flannery, of course, was extremely lucky his try was not subjected to an examination by the television match official, but his ball handling game and tenacity could go some way to restoring organisation to Ireland's maul, which failed dismally last night.

Versatile back Geordan Murphy and experienced lock Malcolm O'Kelly will also be hoping to get their chance, but O'Sullivan appears eager to get it right with the personnel he sees taking to the field against France and Argentina in the final two pool games.

"I want to look at things in more detail before deciding whether I'll make any changes. I've only had a glance at it so far," said O'Sullivan. "If we make changes we must know what advantages they will bring. I don't want to make changes for the sake of it. You have to consider whether it will improve the team.

"I wouldn't say changes are out of the question but I'm not going to slash and burn because of one game."