Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll insists that Ireland still have plenty to do despite their superb 15-6 victory over Australia.
Ireland camp refuse to get carried away with win over Wallabies
Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll insists that Ireland still have plenty to do despite their superb 15-6 victory over Australia in Auckland.
With the backing of a partisan crowd, the Irish pulled off the shock of the World Cup so far as Jonathan Sexton kicked nine points and Ronan O'Gara added six more.
But O'Driscoll has warned against getting carried away and has now turned his focus to finishing at the top of Pool C.
"It was nice to deliver this win but that's half the job done. We have a game next week that we must win," he said.
"This is to be enjoyed but we must use it as a stepping stone to a level of consistency.
"That's where we've struggled a bit in the past. A goal of ours in the coming weeks is to make sure that we don't let this standard drop.
Good win
"It's a good win but I'm not sitting here with the Webb Ellis trophy beside me. It's a win and it's great because it's something we haven't done before, but let's not oversell it.
"It's a means to an end and we must accept it as that. We mustn't get lost in the moment."
Ireland struggled during their warm-up campaign for the World Cup but played with plenty of fighting spirit and confidence against a well-fancied Australia side.
O'Driscoll added: "It's nice to back up all our talk from during the week. There were some very passionate words said by guys who weren't even in the 22. That's where it came from
"There were some poignant moments throughout the week. I don't think a lot of guys will forget (injured) Jerry Flannery handing out the jerseys yesterday at the captain's meeting.
"Mentally we were in a place where we felt as though we owed ourselves a big performance. Much as we owed the Irish public one, we owed ourselves one first and foremost.
"There was a tension in training and a sense the performance was coming. It was just a matter of making it happen."
Improvement
Ireland Coach Declan Kidney echoed his skipper'ssentiments, saying that there is still room for improvement after the famous win.
"We managed to stifle a very good Australian side. I think our scrum is getting a little stronger. We still have a little bit of work to do. The work really starts now," Kidney told
ITV.
He added: "It's the fifth time we have played Australia in the Rugby World Cup and you get a bit fed up with losing."
Veteran lock Paul O'Connell said: "Today we played to our potential. It's just a pool game for us. All the games from now on in are big games."
Australia boss Robbie Deans was left to lament the fact that his side could not adjust to Ireland's tactics of slowing the ball down, meaning their potent backline failed to get into the game.
"Ireland were very effective. They defended really well and did not allow us to recycle the ball. It was effective," he said.
"We would have liked more field position. Our decision-making was not always great."
