New Zealand v Ireland, New Plymouth, June 12
O'Driscoll hit by vertigo
Scrum.com
June 11, 2010
Brian O'Driscoll runs with the ball during Ireland's training session at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand, June 8, 2010
Brian O'Driscoll is confident of starting against the All Blacks © Getty Images
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Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll is confident that he will be ready to face New Zealand on Saturday despite an attack of vertigo.

The Leinster centre has been struck by the problem before, notably in the aftermath of Ireland's Grand Slam in 2009. Having sat out the team's captains run at Yarrow Stadium he is relaxed about his prospects of starting against the All Blacks.

"I'll be grand in another 24 hours," he said. "I just get a bit of vertigo now and then. I haven't had it for a while.

"The last real memory of having it was the night we won the Grand Slam and I couldn't go to the dinner. It just came on and I was getting sick that time. I just felt a little bit dizzy last night and went to bed and felt a bit better this morning. I took a bit more medication and I'll be grand."

O'Driscoll's centre partner, Gordon D'Arcy, also sat out the team's final session but is not a concern for coach Declan Kidney. Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks and O'Driscoll is well aware of the need to perform this weekend if they are to break a long-standing duck.

"You've got to play one of your better games in an Irish jersey collectively, not just seven or eight of us. Everyone has to combine for a really good performance," he said. "In the past we've put in good performances for 50 or 60 minutes and not been able to complete the full 80. That's the big test.

"Anytime we've been in with a shout we've taken the foot off or New Zealand have put extra pressure on us in the last 20 and they've come good."

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