O'Sullivan promises to battle on

Eddie O'Sullivan signed a four-year contract before the World Cup

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has vowed to get on with the job despite mounting pressure after Saturday's Six Nations defeat by Wales in Dublin.

"In this business it seems at the moment you are one loss away from being under pressure for your job," he said.

"It is a game about results and every time you don't get those results that question will come up. I just do the same thing, get on with the job.

"We've been building momentum and when you lose it's a bit of a step back."

He added: "It's disappointing all round, particularly to lose a tight game like it was against Wales."

O'Sullivan defended himself from accusations that his tactics left Ireland lacking ambition against Warren Gatland's Welsh side.

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"It wasn't a classic Wales-Ireland encounter, end-to-end rugby, and we didn't want it to be that way because we knew it would have suited Wales more than Ireland.

"If we'd lost by 20 points you could say we got it badly wrong, but for all the opportunities Wales created they didn't do much with them.

"If we were so bad and Wales were so good, why was there one point in it with five minutes left on the clock? We must have been doing something right."

When asked if he still retains the confidence of the team, O'Sullivan replied: "I believe so, I don't have any doubt about that. It's not an issue."

Ireland have won their last four Tests against England, a run that includes two hard-fought Twickenham victories in 2004 and 2006.

"We've always gone to Twickenham with the mantra that if you enter the final 10 minutes within one score, you can win," said O'Sullivan. "That's what's happened in the past.

"If it turns out any better next week then I'd take it, but it usually doesn't."