BBC SPORT | BBC Pundits | Time to move on

BBC Sport Online columnist Brian O'Driscoll says now that Ireland have qualified for the World Cup it's time to move on.

No doubt we will have our critics, but they can give off as much as they like. At least our victory over Georgia means we are now in the 2003 World Cup.

What people don't realise is that it's difficult to play against teams like Russia and Georgia.

Ireland ensure World Cup place

We did a job in Krasnoyarsk, and that's all we wanted to do.

Then against Georgia it was an opportunity to take them apart, which we did in the first half, but we failed to play up to our standard in the second half.

It was a funny sort of a match. In fact, it's hard to compare Georgia with our last match against Russia.

Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll
O'Driscol scores two tries against Georgia

But I suppose they were very much alike. They were certainly just as physical, but there was one very vital difference and that was space.

I reckon if we had of played Russia in the open spaces of Lansdowne Road, we would have put a bigger score on them.

When they both meet soon, it will be quite a close game between the two of them, and that should be interesting as World Cup qualification is at stake.

Overall, we played extremely well in the first half, and poorly in the second, that's it in a nutshell.

We chucked out a few wild passes and our general play was very scrappy and untidy in that second half, and our patterns went out the window.

The second period certainly was not pleasing for us, although we came back strongly in the end to score a couple of tries and scored 21 points.

I'm looking forward to playing for Leinster again and trying to resurrect their cause

Brian O'Driscoll

The bottom line is that the job's done, full stop, new chapter.

Mind you it was good to a couple more touchdowns. I'll take those, no matter who it's against. That's my 16th try, and just one off Brendan Mullin's record.

I knew I had to do something when that man Denis Hickie scored the opening try. That had him equal with me on 14 tries.

So I thought I better get my skates on, and I got those two touchdowns later in the first half. It certainly quietened Hickie down a bit

Not too sore, but as usual, there is bumps and bruises. There's always bumps and bruises in rugby.

You rarely get through a match without somebody given you a bang or two.

Now it's back to our provinces. I'm looking forward to playing for Leinster again and to try and resurrect their cause in the Celtic League.

Ireland wing Denis Hickie scored his 15th try for Ireland. two behind Brendan Mullin's record,
Denis Hickie chasing Irish record with O'Driscoll

Hopefully we can get two wins, and then then combinations are in our favour to qualify for the knock-out stages.

The Ireland squad have been together for quite a while now, something like eight weeks. But that's rugby life nowadays

In a way it's been something like a long tour. We get on really well with each other, and enjoy each other's company and spending time together.

So really, it has not been hard work by any means. But we will look forward to meet up with each other again when the internationals start up again in the autumn.