O'Sullivan wants his side to be expansive

The Irish lost 34-23 to the All Blacks last weekend but O'Sullivan insists his side must try to persevere with their expansive game.

"There are times when you have to run with the football to win," he said.

"If you haven't been doing that consistently, you can't just pull that out of the bottom drawer on the day."

O'Sullivan has adopted a more positive style after last year's British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

As a coach on that tour, O'Sullivan saw at first hand how New Zealand destroyed the Lions with their attacking power.

And although his Ireland team were also thumped 45-7 by the All Blacks in the autumn, O'Sullivan is sticking to his guns.

We like to think we have something left in reserve as well Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll

"You have to experience that playing environment and you may have to adjust your tactics on a one-off situation, but there will be a time when you have to go out and play rugby," he added.

"If you haven't been doing that you are in no position to do that when you are under the most amount of pressure."

O'Sullivan's view was supported by skipper Brian O'Driscoll.

"A lot of the time, playing off the cuff and running hard is the most effective way to play teams," he said.

"If you don't know what you are doing, they certainly don't know what you are doing."

And the Leinster centre has warned his side to remember the lessons of Ireland's 2002 tour to New Zealand.

Ireland ran the All Blacks close in the opening game, losing 15-6 in Dunedin, but lost the second Test 40-8 in Auckland.

"The All Blacks are certainly going to be better than they were at the weekend, history has shown that," he added.

"But we like to think we have something left in reserve as well.

"We don't want to be another one of those sides that goes well in the first Test, is narrowly beaten and then capitulates in the second Test."