Such is their depth of talent they remain red-hot favourites for the World Cup, but the summer’s events has pierced their aura of invincibility following two years of Test domination.

Drawn in the ’group of death’ alongside France and Argentina, Ireland will meet Graham Henry’s side in a quarter-final at the Millennium Stadium if they finish runners-up in Pool D.

O’Driscoll is heartened by the chinks exposed in the All Blacks’ armour but knows they have the ability to emerge from their ’slump’ at the World Cup.

“I saw most of the game in which Australia beat New Zealand in Melbourne,” he said.

“The Aussies showed that day that the longer you hang in the game, the more the All Blacks are there for the taking.

“It all comes down to taking your opportunities and Australia did that very well when they scored the match-winning try through Scott Staniforth.

“Perhaps New Zealand showed greater form last year than they have in this summer’s Tri-Nations, but they could turn it back on come World Cup time.”

Seven games separate Ireland and a potential last eight clash with the All Blacks, starting with Saturday’s warm-up match against Scotland at Murrayfield.

O’Driscoll was expected to miss the trip to Murrayfield in order to allow coach Eddie O’Sullivan to concentrate on finalising his 30-man World Cup squad.

But the Lions skipper’s lack of match practice – he has not played since aggravating a hamstring injury against Italy in the RBS 6 Nations on March 17 - forced O’Sullivan’s hand.

“I didn’t actually have to ask to play,” said O’Driscoll, who is joined in the side by the similarly rusty Paul O’Connell.

“I probably would have put my name forward if I had needed to but Eddie felt I could do with a game. We were both singing from the same hymn sheet.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve played any rugby. It’ll be close to five months since I played a match.

“I’m thoroughly looking forward to it and the game can’t come quick enough for me.

“You always feel a bit rusty. You feel a bit rusty at the start of any season.

“I’ve been training with a rugby ball for close to a fortnight so it’s obviously going to take a while to get back the same levels of hand-eye co-ordination.

“The fact I missed the end of last season means I’ve had a longer spell than most without that competitiveness. And it takes its time to come back.”

Only a handful of places remain available in Ireland’s World Cup squad with O’Sullivan yet to make his mind up on two or possibly three positions.

The rivals jostling for those spots are all in action on Saturday, turning the match into a trial that will effectively decide their World Cup fate.

“It’s a very, very motivated squad at the moment. My job has been very easy,” said O’Driscoll.

“There hasn’t really been a need for me to go around having a quiet word with any of the guys.

“The lads have just been going about their business quietly, working hard, training hard and giving themselves every opportunity of impressing Eddie and getting on that plane.”

O’Sullivan announces his final World Cup squad at 11am on Sunday morning with Ireland scheduled to meet Italy in a second warm-up game on August 24.