Stadium 'like Lansdowne Rd'

[1] Brian O'Driscoll. Photo from ODT files.
Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll has much happier memories of New Zealand now.

In 2005, O'Driscoll was famously invalided out of the Lions tour when he was dumped on his neck by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu in the first test in Christchurch.

Fast forward six years and the gifted centre leads a resurgent Irish team that has topped pool C, is into the quarterfinals to play Wales, and is still buzzing from its Otago Stadium experience.

"There was a sea of green everywhere you looked," captain Brian O'Driscoll said after Sunday night's 36-6 win over Italy.

"It was incredible to play here. It was exactly like Lansdowne Road. I've played at Dublin in the past when the support hasn't been that good."

O'Driscoll praised the travelling Irish supporters and the ex-pats who live in Dunedin.

"Also the Kiwis who have jumped on board to support Ireland as well. We will welcome anyone who will wear green and cheer for us."

Irish coach Declan Kidney was particularly impressed by the Otago Stadium pitch.

"One of our team said that wasn't it ironic when we have one of the nicest days of our trip and we are playing indoors," Kidney said.

The dry pitch enabled Ireland to play a more expansive game than in other pool matches at the World Cup.

"The first three matches had been in wet conditions so we had to adapt to those, '' Kidney said. "We had to adapt to perfect conditions tonight."

It is the first time Ireland has won a pool at a World Cup. The Irish now turn their attention to the quarterfinal against Wales in Wellington on Saturday.

"Our games have been close over the last eight years," O'-Driscoll said.

"It doesn't matter where they have been played. They have won in Dublin and we have beaten them in Cardiff. It will be the team that plays a little better on the day because there is not much between the sides."

Kidney expects space to be cut down because the players know each other so well.

"It will be like a cup final. You can't afford to keep anything back for another day. You just have to turn up."

For the Italians, playing in front of such an Irish-dominated crowd in Dunedin was something of a shock.

"Against Russia and the United States in Nelson, we were the preferred side and had a supportive crowd," Italy coach Nick Mallett said.

But it was different in Dunedin on Sunday night.

"It was like playing at Lansdowne Road. There was just a mass of green all over the field.

"I think every New Zealander put his green jersey on tonight. I don't think there are enough Irishmen with enough euros left to come over here."