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'It is important that we realise that the Grand Slam is shelved now'
FIT-again Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery has warned the Grand Slam champions of the importance of repeating their immense work ethic of last season before the side can progress to the next level in international rugby.
Thirty one-year-old Flannery has recovered from a niggling calf muscle injury and will win his 32nd cap when Declan Kidney's Ireland face Australia in the first of the Guinness Series autumn internationals at Croke Park this Sunday. (3pm).
Relieved to have put a troubling period with injury behind him, Limerickman Flannery said it was crucial Ireland 'shelve' their Grand Slam winning exploits and concentrate fully on the task of beating the Wallabies, Fiji and World champions South Africa in the coming weeks.
"Last year, there was not a whole lot of expectation going into the season because of the run of poor results in the World Cup and Six Nations following on from there," Jerry Flannery explained.
"Declan (Kidney) came in with Gert (Smal) Les (Kiss) and Gaffer (Alan Gaffney) and changed things around a little bit.
"We were lucky enough that we were successful last season, but it is important that we realise that the Grand Slam is shelved now. There may be increased pressure in the media, but it is always driven from internally within the camp.
"We just have to remember that nothing counts now from last season. We have to start again.
"We have had four camps already this season. The coaching staff have done an awful lot of analysis on how we can improve as a team and adding some finer detail to what we do on the field. But I think it is important as well that you don't forget that there was an awful lot of hard work to get us to that certain point last season. And you cannot take that for granted. We have to put in that hard work to get to a certain stage and if you can add a little more detail, a couple of little touches here and there, the last 2% to 3% that really open teams up a bit more, that is how you progress as a team. But like I am saying we start from scratch again so we have to get back to a certain stage before all that stuff can get added in."
Flannery will take his place at hooker in a front row which includes his Munster team-mate John Hayes, who returns from suspension and Leinster new-cap Cian Healy.
"It is a lot different this week, lining out with Cian (Healy). I am so used to playing with Marcus (Horan). But I am really looking forward to playing with Cian," Jerry Flannery said.
"He has been in really good form with Leinster. He is really powerful and is going to have a big future for Irish rugby.
Back-up hooker for Ireland on the replacements' bench on Sunday is provided by former Ardscoil Ris student Sean Cronin, who won an AIL honours with Shannon before moving to Connacht. Cronin will win his first full international cap should he be introduced in Sunday's game.
Jerry Flannery said: "Sean (Cronin) is a very exciting player He has come through the lines I came through. He played his schools rugby in Limerick, played with Shannon and has moved to with Connacht to try and get more game time.
"He has been progressing well as a player."
Then Flannery joked: "Obviously, I don't want to talk Sean up too much because he is trying to take my job! I would say if you give him another six or seven years, he might be in there!
"Keith Earls is also on the bench and he is another very exciting player. We went out to St Munchin's College earlier this year after we won the Grand Slam. It was funny thinking there that myself and Marcus (Horan) remembered being in the school eight years earlier as students, and Keith had been there two years earlier. He has had a rocket ride in rugby so far."
Flannery said he was relieved to be back fully fit after a frustrating run of injuries.
"The calf injury is good. I trained towards the end of last week and this week as well. I did a bit of fitness and it stood up well," Flannery explained.
"It looks like I have been out for six months. But by the time Munster started their pre-season at the start of July, I was back fully fit training. It was just towards the end of August, when Munster had their first pre-season game, that I tore my right calf and I was out for six weeks with that.
"I came back and played for Shannon in a friendly. Then I came on the RDS in the Leinster match and played the full game against Northampton. I felt perfect. And then the following Tuesday before the Treviso game, I tore my left calf which was disappointing. But i don't think there is anything I could have done anything differently. We have analysed it. It was just bad luck."
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (Capt), Paddy Wallace, Luke Fitzgerald, Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary, Cian Healy, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Stephen Ferris, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Leo Cullen, Denis Leamy, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Keith Earls.
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper; Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell; Matt Giteau, Will Genia ; Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander; James Horwill, Mark Chisholm; Rocky Elsom (Captain), David Pocock, Wycliff Palu.
Replacements: Tatafu Polota Nau, Matt Dunning, Dean Mumm, George Smith, Luke Burgess, Ryan Cross, James O'Connor.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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