Coach Eddie O'Sullivan had demanded Ireland put one of the group's whipping boys to the sword, but instead a disjointed and error-strewn display will have left him deeply concerned.

Brian O'Driscoll, Andrew Trimble and Simon Easterby touched down in the first half as Ireland raced into a 20-3 lead but the Namibians rallied and pegged it back to 27-17, before Jerry Flannery went over to seal a win that will not have given their rivals cause for concern.

Namibia, who have never won a World Cup match and ship an average of 70 points every tournament outing, dominated a dramatic second half.

Tries for Jacques Nieuwenhuis and Piet van Zyl rewarded the Africans' heroics after the interval and by the end it was Ireland who looked the under-prepared band of part-timers.

They even completed the night with a lap of the pitch after the final whistle - a gesture that was greeted with a standing ovation from the Stade Chaban-Delmas.

It was a penalty try awarded by French referee Juel Jutge that brought up Ireland's bonus point.

Jutge also gave substitute Flannery a controversial late try when replays suggested the Munster hooker failed to ground the ball.

Ronan O'Gara's kicking did the rest, but it would have been beyond Namibia's wildest dreams to hold Europe's second best team to just a 15-point victory.