Brian O’Driscoll: Our Coaching In Attack Wasn’t Good Enough at RWC 2011

Brian O’Driscoll believes that a lack of an innovative attacking game plan cost Ireland dearly during their last World Cup campaign.

As the country gears up for Sunday’s quarter-final clash with Argentina, memories were cast back to the last eight clash four years ago in New Zealand when Declan Kidney’s side were beaten 22-10 by Wales in Wellington.

O’Driscoll has previously stated that it was the most disappointing defeat of his career with such high expectations after defeating Australia in the pool stages.

Speaking yesterday on Newstalk’s Off The Ball Roadshow, the former Ireland captain believes that tactically they simply came up short against a side with a better game plan.

“I think we had an unbelievable talented team that year [2011], probably a talented 22 or 23, maybe not the extended squad, but we were pretty lucky with injuries,” he said.

“I think we had a really bad attack shape and we didn’t have a full understanding as to how to get the most out of players.

“The clarity that the team now has and the way they want to play the game, we didn’t have that in attack. We had that in defence. It was driven into us by Les Kiss, but our attack shape was really poor.

“I think Wales outwitted us on the day, they chopped our big runners , Dan Lydiate had one of the games of his life and after that we just felt a little blunt.

“We didn’t have the understanding as to how to pull them apart.”

Looking on at the current crop and the meticulous attention to detail instilled from Joe Schmidt and his management team, Ireland’s record try scorer believes the team are reaping the rewards of astute coaching in every area.

“That’s where coaching becomes such a huge aspect,” he added.

“You can see what really good coaching is doing to this Ireland side.”

Article Source: Independent.ie