By Cathal Dervan

BRIAN O’Driscoll has committed his long term future to Leinster and signed a new contract with the IRFU that runs up to 2011. The Ireland captain was tempted by offers to move to France but has opted instead to stay at home.

“I have spent my entire professional rugby career with Leinster and it has always been an honor and privilege to wear the blue jersey,” O’Driscoll said. When I sat back and thought about it, it was not a difficult decision to make. I am happy with the coaching set up that we have here and when you look at the quality of players in our squad, I did not see any reason to leave.” . . .

IRELAND are up to fifth in the International Rugby Board official world rankings ahead of Sunday’s test with Australia in Lansdowne Road after the comprehensive win over South Africa on Sunday. New Zealand are tops while England are now to an all time low of seventh after they were beaten at home by Argentina . . .

IRISH coach Eddie O’Sullivan has drafted Leinster winger Denis Hickie into his squad for Sunday’s Lansdowne Road clash with Australia as cover for Ulster’s Andrew Trimble, who aggravated a hamstring injury against South Africa on Saturday . . .

IRELAND will kick off their 2007 Rugby World Cup finals program against Namibia in Bordeaux next September after the Africans qualified for Pool D with a comprehensive victory over Morocco in the playoffs.