It's difficult to know where to start in trying to analyse this from an Ireland context. It was a really disappointing display and a second substandard one in succession. One thing that struck me was the lack of passion. The Georgians completely outshone them in this aspect of the game.

One essential ingredient in Irish rugby has been the passion generated on the pitch and that was missing again. It was another flat performance. As a starting point for any Ireland team you have that passion and over the last few years they have added intelligent, tactically aware, skilful rugby to that package.

It has underpinned their successes and been at the core of significant wins over Australia, South Africa and in various Six Nations Championship campaigns. Ireland play with an emotional intensity that commands respect and is the heartbeat of best performances.

I don't want this to sound like sour grapes but when I look back on my situation in 2001 I was deeply disappointed not to have my contract renewed but the success Ireland have enjoyed since then brooks no argument and I was fortunate to go on and enhance my coaching education with Wasps.

However, I have to question the IRFU's decision in giving Eddie O'Sullivan a four-year extension at this point and wonder if the timing of that agreement has been counterproductive for Ireland in terms of the World Cup.

Eddie O'Sullivan has been in charge for six years and it takes a special person to keep developing a team, generating new ideas, fostering new challenges. I think it has given the team a false sense of security. Any extension of the coach's contract should have been done after the World Cup following a debriefing on the performances and the results achieved. And the performances.

There's been a lack of edge to the Ireland displays and the team need to be shaken from that torpor. Staleness has crept in and the enthusiasm and drive that have underpinned recent Ireland successes isn't apparent. The environment has become too cosy and there's a sense that one of the essentials in any Ireland team is missing: it's a team that's not playing for each other and that's evident in some of the body language.

Munster manage it year after year but there have been fresh voices during that period of success. This has been the best prepared Ireland team in terms of World Cups and the expectations have been huge. The challenge for Eddie now is to find the solution, the kernel of the problem. There will be players in the squad who think they can provide that solution and it's up to the coach to make a value judgment. In terms of team selection over the first two games, he's now backed himself into a corner.

Ireland simply cannot afford to pick the same team again for the game against France. There are several players playing below the acceptable standards. Jerry Flannery's arrival provided a much needed spark against Georgia. Geordan Murphy is also capable of doing that given his skills set. I'd definitely have a look at Eoin Reddan because of his all round game, while Neil Best has impressed me with his aggression and commitment over the last year.

You want players now who are prepared to die for the cause. I spoke before about the halfbacks not being a running threat and so allowing the opposition to drift on to the Irish centres, thus denying them space. Once again this was apparent. You have to attack the gain line, the fringes; you have to keep the opposition honest and at times guessing if you're going to create space further out.

There's no cohesion to Ireland's play. At one point they had a penalty 40 metres out and having just scored with a mauled lineout for a try, should have kicked to the corner. Ronan O'Gara instead went for the posts and missed. Psychologically it makes a statement. Two years ago Ireland toured New Zealand and Australia and didn't turnover the ball once against some of the best backrows in the world. They're throwing them away like confetti now. They're not getting enough numbers to the breakdown, not clearing out rucks aggressively. They could have varied their game more, kicked a few high balls, rather than long and aimless ones.

Eddie has some tough decisions to make. If he doesn't make changes for France he's endorsing the current team while saying to the others that no matter how bad this team plays it's staying largely intact. It's about ruthlessly appraising form and knowing who's now best suited to the game you want to play. There are Irish players not performing at this World Cup.

I'd also be concerned about Ireland's passive defence that allowed Georgia to win the physical collisions. Ireland's senior players have got to stand up. Paul O'Connell is a talisman, he's got to lead by example and demand more from those around him. Not getting the bonus point is a huge setback and has handed the initiative back to France in terms of the qualification process. For Eddie it's about being proactive in terms of selection. There has to be honesty between players and management if Ireland are going to rediscover their form in time.

I really felt for Georgia. Their inexperience and a couple of errors at lineouts close to the end cost them a potentially sensational victory. But for Ireland, the time has come to stand up and be counted.