KEARNEY: FEAR WILL BRING IRELAND GLORY
Rob Kearney believes that the fear of losing out on the RBS 6 Nations grand slam is exactly what will spur Ireland to glory on Saturday at Wales’ Millennium Stadium.
The young full back, who made his RBS 6 Nations debut last season, has cemented his place with some mature displays in this championship. In Declan Kidney’s all-conquering Irish team he has shown level-headedness in defence and innovation in attack.
And it is his coolness that Ireland will need on Saturday against reining champions Wales, who will need 13 points or more to claim victory in the tournament.
And Kearney, who knows that his country have not won such a competition since 1985 – before he was born – insists that the team are just focusing on the next 80 minutes and not the ultimate prize.
“There is an excitement because we are going to Cardiff to play in the Millennium and it is going to be a great game,” said the 22-year-old. “But at the same time it is just another 80 minutes of rugby and we will go at it like every game, going out to win it and it won’t be any different this week.
“We will go out with the sole intention to win the game and if there is a prize at the end, then that is fantastic. In this championship it is a cup mentality and you go out to win every game and this weekend won’t be any different.
“There is no such thing as complacency when you are playing Wales in Cardiff. They won the grand slam last year so you would be a brave side to be complacent.
“We will have that bit of fear as well in us because we are playing against such a good team, but I think it is important to have that fear as it can bring out the best in you.
“If you don’t have that fear, you have complacency in you, and complacent sides don’t get the best out of themselves and you can go into a box, a bit.”
Kearney’s opposite man on Saturday will be Lee Byrne, many people’s favourite for the Lions No15 jersey. But the Leinster flyer, who has not faced Wales on their own turf, is not fazed.
He continued: “Every week you want to play against the best players, and he is in great form at the moment. I am looking forward to playing against Lee, and a lot of the Welsh backs because they are all great players.
“I haven’t played against Wales in the Millennium. I am learning the whole time – it is a fresh occasion every time.
“But I think we haven’t hit our best rugby yet but hopefully next weekend that will be the time. Potentially it is a good way to the end the season, but it could be heartache for us too.
“We have to have that fear in our game. It is just another 80 minutes of rugby and that is what everyone is going to be focussed on.”
Rob Kearney believes that the fear of losing out on the RBS 6 Nations grand slam is exactly what will spur Ireland to glory on Saturday at Wales’ Millennium Stadium.
The young full back, who made his RBS 6 Nations debut last season, has cemented his place with some mature displays in this championship. In Declan Kidney’s all-conquering Irish team he has shown level-headedness in defence and innovation in attack.
And it is his coolness that Ireland will need on Saturday against reining champions Wales, who will need 13 points or more to claim victory in the tournament.
And Kearney, who knows that his country have not won such a competition since 1985 – before he was born – insists that the team are just focusing on the next 80 minutes and not the ultimate prize.
“There is an excitement because we are going to Cardiff to play in the Millennium and it is going to be a great game,” said the 22-year-old. “But at the same time it is just another 80 minutes of rugby and we will go at it like every game, going out to win it and it won’t be any different this week.
“We will go out with the sole intention to win the game and if there is a prize at the end, then that is fantastic. In this championship it is a cup mentality and you go out to win every game and this weekend won’t be any different.
“There is no such thing as complacency when you are playing Wales in Cardiff. They won the grand slam last year so you would be a brave side to be complacent.
“We will have that bit of fear as well in us because we are playing against such a good team, but I think it is important to have that fear as it can bring out the best in you.
“If you don’t have that fear, you have complacency in you, and complacent sides don’t get the best out of themselves and you can go into a box, a bit.”
Kearney’s opposite man on Saturday will be Lee Byrne, many people’s favourite for the Lions No15 jersey. But the Leinster flyer, who has not faced Wales on their own turf, is not fazed.
He continued: “Every week you want to play against the best players, and he is in great form at the moment. I am looking forward to playing against Lee, and a lot of the Welsh backs because they are all great players.
“I haven’t played against Wales in the Millennium. I am learning the whole time – it is a fresh occasion every time.
“But I think we haven’t hit our best rugby yet but hopefully next weekend that will be the time. Potentially it is a good way to the end the season, but it could be heartache for us too.
“We have to have that fear in our game. It is just another 80 minutes of rugby and that is what everyone is going to be focussed on.”
Labels: Ireland, RBS 6 Nations, Rob Kearney, Wales
