Ireland hooker Richardt Strauss has said that the team must improve ahead of the Rugby World Cup which gets underway on September 18.

The Leinster player believes that defeats against both England and Wales will cause the side to improve.

"We'd rather go into the competition knowing that we have to improve and be sharp than going in complacent and get an awakening in the tournament, when it's too late," Strauss told reporters.

"At least we're going in now knowing that we have to work hard and there's stuff to work on, that we have to be on point in everything we do.

"There's loads of room for improvement for us and I think it will only get better and better the more time we spend together as a group of 31.

"The last two games are pretty disappointing - there's definitely stuff we have to work on, stuff we aren't happy with. In general I think we can see that the way we're going about stuff and the direction we're going in is what we're looking to do."

Ireland face Canada in their Pool D opener on September 19.