Rugby
O'Driscoll scare for Ireland
2010-06-11 10:28
Auckland - Captain Brian O'Driscoll gave the Ireland camp a scare on the eve of their one-off Test against the All Blacks when dizzy spells forced him to sit out training.
However, he declared himself confident he would be fully fit for Saturday's Test.
Describing the ailment as "a little bit of vertigo" O'Driscoll stayed in his hotel room while the team rounded off their training on a wet Yarrow Stadium, but he arrived at the ground later to declare himself fit.
"I feel okay, a bit better than last night so I'll be grand in another 24 hours," he said.
"I get a little bit of vertigo now and again. I haven't had it for a while but I'll be grand." O'Driscoll added he did not think it was stress related because the last time he had a dizzy spell was after Ireland won the Grand Slam last year and he was unable to attend the celebratory dinner.
"Last night I felt a little bit dizzy and went to bed, felt a bit better this morning, so just took a bit more medication and I'll be grand."
Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks in a rivalry covering 22 Tests over the past 105 years, and O'Driscoll said he knew how to end the losing streak.
"We have to play better. "We have to play one of our better games in an Irish jersey, collectively, not just seven or eight of us. In the past we've put in good performances for 50 or 60 minutes and not for the full 80.
"Any time we've been in with a shout we've taken the foot off or New Zealand have put us under pressure for the last 20. It's about playing a full 80 minute game and trying to play as much attacking rugby as possible."