“It’s very difficult for players to play at the level of intensity required within that timeframe.

“The travel hasn’t helped us either but so be it. We’ve come here prepared to play.”

Leinster's Girvan Dempsey has been ruled out of the Ireland team for tomorrow's Six Nations game against Italy in Rome.

Dempsey underwent a fitness test this morning after picking up a groin strain, but he has failed to recover in time to make the Irish team.

He is to be replaced by Leicester full-back Geordan Murphy, with John Kelly moving to fill the vacancy on the wing.

Even without Dempsey and Horgan, the Irish should be too skilful for Italy, whose coach John Kirwan today confirmed an unchanged starting line-up following his side’s shock 30-22 win over Wales at the same venue last Saturday.

It is a measure of Ireland’s strength that centre Rob Henderson, who boosted his Lions tour prospects with a hat-trick in Ireland’s win here two years ago, has to be content with a spot on the replacements bench tomorrow.

But O’Sullivan laughed off talk of a 32-point victory, insisting: “It’s a six nations game away from home, I’d take 1-0 if we could get it!”

O’Sullivan said he was impressed by the Azzurri’s performance against Wales and delivered the ultimate compliment by claiming tomorrow’s fixture “will be just like any other Six Nations game”.

He praised former All Black winger Kirwan for the improvement he has brought to the team, saying: “They are a better all-round team.

“They have retained their strength in their set pieces that Brad Johnston brought to the side but I think in the last year we’ve seen an Italian team produce a much better form of attacking rugby.

“They have more width to their game and defensively they are much more structured and their discipline is very good.”

Kirwan said: “We don’t talk about who’s going to win and who’s going to lose. We talk about what we need to do on the football paddock.

“It’s important we approach this game with the same passion and spirit as last week and, if the Irish are better than us, then so be it.

“It’s out of our control. I believe if we play with the same passion and spirit, we are in for a good game of football.

“It’s going to be very hard to read what we’re going to do tomorrow. I think our strength is in our unpredictability.”

Meanwhile, Italy captain Alessandro Troncon added spice ahead of the game by issuing a warning to his opposite number Peter Stringer.

The two have a history going back two years, with Troncon sent off for punching the Irishman at Stadio Flaminio and, according to Troncon, helping to get prop Salvatore Perugini yellow-carded at Lansdowne Road last season.

“He is a provocative player but the referees are getting to know him and it was interesting that he was given a yellow card in the Celtic League final,” said Troncon.

O’Sullivan played down the spat, claiming: “I think they’re similiar type players.

“They like to control their domain. I think you see a good tussle but after the game they’ll have a beer like they always do.”

Italy’s chances could hinge on their ability to restrain Brian O’Driscoll, the world’s best centre who destroyed Scotland in devastating fashion last Sunday, but Kirwan claims to have put together a cunning plan to combat the threat of the brilliant Irishman.

“Yes, we’ve found a very beautiful Italian woman for him tonight,” he quipped. “We’ve lined up a nice restaurant for them and we’re going to make sure he drinks champagne all night.”

O’Driscoll, who will lead his country for the fifth time, joined in the sense of fun when told of Kirwman’s comment. “What time is it?” he asked.