Fullback Rob Kearney believes the experience gained from Heineken Cup campaigns have left Ireland well equipped to deal with the pressures of knockout rugby at the World Cup. Irish provinces Munster, Leinster and Ulster have been in the thick of the action for years in Europe’s premier club competition, not only winning four of the last six finals but often fighting through tough pools with grandstand finales.
While Ireland are currently sitting on top of Pool C having beaten Australia, defeat by the Italians on Sunday in their final group game could still knock them out of the tournament depending on the Italians’ result against the United States later on Tuesday.
In the past the nerves may well have got to the Irish but that is now longer the case, according to Kearney.
“We are sort of lucky with the Heineken Cup at home that we often find ourselves in these scenarios that, come round six, you could be going either way,” he said of the often tension-racked pool-stage finales.
“It’s a massive help because knockout rugby is different and it’s something you might not always be used to. Whether you like it or not, it’s a much higher-pressure situation, knowing if you do lose, you could be going home. So I’d like to think those games will stand to us hugely.
Experience is the word. It’s just about dealing with those pressure situations, do your basics. Like any other big game where there’s a huge amount on the line, you have to limit your errors massively and take those opportunities when they come.”
Kearney, one of the best running fullbacks in the game, is desperate to take his chance after fighting back from a knee injury that threatened his participation in the tournament.
Missing out would have been a massive blow for Ireland and for 25-year-old Kearney, who helped Leinster win the Heineken Cup, was an ever-present in Ireland’s grand slam winning Six Nations side and played all three tests for the British and Irish Lions in South Africa in 2009.
A knee injury suffered in last November’s defeat by New Zealand ended his season, kept him out of Leinster’s second Heineken Cup success and the Six Nations. He was a mere spectator as Ireland struggled to 13-11 win over the Italians in Rome.
“We have a huge amount of respect for Italy and in our last game against them they came very close to beating us in a game we played poorly in,” he said. “We played pretty poorly and we did leave a lot of opportunities behind but it was a last-minute drop goal that got the win for us and we were very lucky to come away with the win.
“Everybody knows Italy have been targeting this game, massively. It’s the one all along where they felt they could create a huge upset and so we know they will probably be putting a little bit more into this game for us than some others. But I think the national team have shown throughout the last few years that when the chips are down and we need to win, we can win. We know how to win as players, in provinces and in our country. Winning is not an issue for us.”
Having starred in a losing Irish side throughout last month’s warm-up Tests for the World Cup, Ulster star Andrew Trimble hopes that a strong performance in Sunday’s 62-12 victory over Russia has underlined his claim to a regular first team place. The 26 year old was far from happy at being overlooked for the tournament opener against the United States and is determined to force his way back in.
“I feel fresh, fast and powerful. I want to show that,” he said.
“I’m very confident in my own ability and what I can do on the pitch. I have to prove that and the only way to do that is to get my hands on the ball as much as possible.
“I’ve got to make life difficult for (coach) Declan Kidney and see what happens. Declan knows I’m not happy being on the bench.”
He added: “If I picked the team I’d pick me, but all I can do is play as well as I can. I’ve been frustrated not to have been more involved. I was really disappointed given the way things went last month not to be involved and get a start. That’s the way Declan wants it and having that competition for places is what’s best for the squad. As much as I was devastated, you have to be genuine and wish all the guys to do the best. You want to see them do well. There’s a great buzz in the Irish camp at the moment and that’s because we have that camaraderie.”
The Irish Rugby Football Union have announced that ticket prices have been reduced for the RBS 6 Nations for 2011 and for the first time family packages have been introduced. The prices have been set following a comprehensive review of IRFU ticket prices and ticket distribution systems undertaken by leading sports consultants, Deloitte Sport UK.
The good news for Irish rugby supporters is that ticket prices have been reduced from 2011 and for the first time family packages have been introduced for the tournament. Family tickets start at just €45 while individual stand tickets start at €30 and tickets for the designated schoolboy/schoolgirl section start at €15. The category 1 adult tickets will cost €75 against Wales, €65 for Scotland and €55 for the game with Italy.
IRFU Commercial and Marketing Committee chairman Pat Fitzgerald said:
“We are pleased to be able to offer great value tickets for the RBS Six Nations in 2012. We have tickets available at different category levels that give all our supporters an opportunity to come to the Aviva Stadium and see Ireland play. Our ticketing strategy in August saw huge crowds coming to the Aviva Stadium and we feel that with the value on offer, there will be three full houses for the games against Wales, Scotland and Italy next year.”
The Six Nations games in 2012 and 2013 will be deemed to be one Six Nations ‘cycle’. There will be no linkage requiring branches to purchase tickets for the autumn International matches in November 2012 in order for branches to retain their Six Nations ticket allocations. However the lowest take up of a ticket allocation by any Branch for Wales, Italy or Scotland in 2012, will become the respective allocation for both England and France in 2013. All Branch allocations will be reviewed following the conclusion of the 2013 Six Nations.
Any tickets not sold through the clubs will be made available online through the Irish Rugby Supporters Club.
RBS 6 Nations 2012 Ticket Prices
| Ticket Type |
Wales |
Scotland |
Italy |
| Category 1 Stand |
75.00 |
65.00 |
55.00 |
| Category 2 Stand |
65.00 |
55.00 |
50.00 |
| Category 3 Stand |
55.00 |
45.00 |
40.00 |
| Category 4 Stand |
40.00 |
35.00 |
30.00 |
| Family Pack (1 Adult + 1 Child) Cat 3 |
82.50 |
67.50 |
60.00 |
| Family Pack (1 Adult + 1 Child) Cat 4 |
60.00 |
52.50 |
45.00 |
| Premium Level |
105.00 |
90.00 |
75.00 |
| Schoolboy/girl – Designated Area |
20.00 |
20.00 |
15.00 |
| Restricted View Category 1 |
37.50 |
32.50 |
27.50 |
| Restricted View Category 2 |
32.50 |
27.50 |
25.00 |
| Restricted View Category 3 |
27.50 |
22.50 |
20.00 |
| Restricted View Category 4 |
20.00 |
17.50 |
15.00 |
| Restricted View Premium |
52.50 |
45.00 |
37.50 |
Nine tries and a bonus point for a much changed Ireland side leave Ireland feeling positive for Italy now all bar one of the squad have had decent game time. Particularly as there we no step off the gas with the new look side.
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Mild mannered Declan Kidney is about to lose his cool after former Australian start Tim Horan claimed Ireland feigned in jury in their 15-6 win over Australia.
Horan has claimed he was told about the tactic by Alan Gaffney, but Kidney denies the allegations describing them as:
 ”incredulous and slightly scandalous”
Horan criticised Bryce Lawrence as well, but conceded:
“Ireland deserved to win and always would have won”
Leo Cullen starts his World Cup in style captaining a much changed Ireland side against Rotorua on Sunday.
Cullen will be one of 8 Leinster players in the side with a few more World Cup debutants in Sean Cronin and Fergus McFadden getting a start. Munster’s Donnacha Ryan also starts his first game.
Several senior players are rested ready for the Italy game, O’Driscoll is rested and D’Arcy, O’Connell and Bowe all carry injuries.
Sexton drops to the bench giving O’Gara a start, and Earls switches from wing to centre to join Paddy Wallace.
Cullen will become the third Irishman to be skipper in his tournament debut after Donal Lenihan in 1987 and Dion O’Cuinneagain in 1999. He and Ronan O’Gara are the only survivors from Ireland’s last Russian encounter nine years ago.
Ireland will be likely to attempt to persuade Ronan O’Gara to delay his international retirement after he hinted at it during a recent World Cup interview, saying he would be:
 ”done with Ireland in a few weeks”
Paul McNaughton, the Ireland team manager has said that Ireland’s leading points scorer will be encouraged to stay on…
“Ronan hasn’t talked formally to us about it. There’s no doubt he still has something to offer the team after the World Cup.
“He’s contracted for the next couple of years. Undoubtedly (coach) Declan Kidney and the management will be encouraging him to stay on.”
Paul O’Connell and Gordon D’Arcy both suffered hamstring strains during the win over Australia and are a doubt for the game against Russia.
D’Arcy limped off halfway through, whilst O’Connell managed to complete the match, they’ll be monitored carefully over the next few days ahead of the team announcement for the Russia game.
Donncha O’Callaghan spoke to IrishRugby.ie about the level of support the squad are receivng, the feelings during training in camp and of course that win over Australia…
Read more at IrishRugby.ie….
