Brian O’ Driscoll has no doubts that Ireland can compete with the mighty All Blacks as Ireland prepare to face New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday.  Last weekends performance at home to Australia posed more questions than it answered about this current crop of Irish rugby players and they will face another uphill battle when New Zealand show up to Dublin in buoyant mood after their impressive victory against England in Twickenham last Saturday afternoon.

O’ Driscoll has faced down the Haka thirteen times before in his glittering Irish career but he is yet to taste victory against the All Blacks. Speaking at a press conference yesterday he remains confident that Ireland has the spirit and ability in the squad to cause New Zealand problems, whatever side Joe Schmidt fields. Speaking about Saturday’s game O’Driscoll said “It’s not about containing anyone, it’s about going out and trying to bring your game to the opposition the way you feel you can. Yes, no one will give us a chance, but that’s okay with us. In our own heads we’ll feel we’re more than capable of absolutely competing with them. We have to put ourselves in a position come the latter part of the game where we’re in the hunt. We have the capability to be within touching distance of them.”

O’Driscoll is currently one of three major injury worries for manager Joe Schmidt. Fergus McFadden has been ruled out after the IRFU confirmed that he had broken a bone in his hand during Saturday’s defeat at the hands of the Wallabies. Johnny Sexton and Rob Kearney are also both significant injury doubts, suffering from a hamstring strain and a rib injury, respectively Joe Schmidt will no doubt give the players until Saturday morning to prove their fitness if the decides to name them in his team on Friday morning.