Official RBS 6 Nations Rugby : 'We have nothing to fear'

Eddie O'Sullivan & Brian O'Driscoll

'We have nothing to fear'

27 January 2008, 12:52 pm

By Keith Wood

The key thing for Ireland in this RBS 6 Nations is to remember that they are a very good team and that what happened at the World Cup does not detract from some of the great displays they have put in in recent seasons.

A lot of people called for Eddie O'Sullivan to be sacked after the World Cup but I feel he is the right man for the job. It will make life easier for him when he is able to appoint someone to share the workload, as was suggested by the IRFU review into the Word Cup campaign. People forget that his job is a hard and very lonely one to do and he has done it very well up to now.

Even with the disappointing show in France I believe that Ireland will be there or thereabouts in this tournament. The opening game against Italy will be crucial as a means to restoring confidence. A win there allows the side to build and I don't feel we should have anything to fear from playing anyone, even England.

Some of our key players have got back into form and Ronan O'Gara has played very well for Munster in Europe - which was the first opportunity he has had to show people that the World Cup was not a true representation of him as a player. I'm sure he will continue that fine form in the RBS 6 Nations.

If I had to pick a winner I would go for France. There are a number of unfamiliar names in their squad but I cannot recall the French selecting many players who have flopped at international level and there are some excellent young players in there. They have a strength in depth that a lot of other teams simply do not have.