O'Connell: 'There's a relaxed confidence about the squad now'
LOCK Paul O'Connell says there is a relaxed confidence about the Irish squad ahead of Saturday's RBS Six Nations Championship opener against Italy at Croke Park (2.30pm).
O'Connell, who is set to win his 66th international cap in Saturday's clash, appreciates Italy's ability to hit the ground running in the Six Nations.
While Nick Mallett's side failed to win any of their Championship matches last year, they beat Scotland in their opening game in 2000, did likewise to Wales in 2003 and just two seasons ago they ran Ireland to five points at GAA headquarters.
O'Connell believes Ireland has come a long way since the start of last season, both in terms of how the team wants to play and things they want to do: "I think there's a relaxed confidence about the squad now. This time a year ago, we had worked hard in the autumn but we had really had a poor autumn coming into the Six Nations and we really needed to produce something special, and that's what we did last time around.
"I think we've a lot of confidence and knowledge of what we're doing now. We've come a lot way in terms of how we want to play and things we want to do.
"We're a lot more used to the coaches we have and the way they expect to have things done. So, I suppose it leaves us in a position where we haven't as much to do as we did this time last year."
The Munster skipper is expecting Italy to provide a major challenge up front this weekend, given the strength in depth in their pack.
With players of the experience of 62-time capped prop Martin Castrogiovanni, lock Marco Bortolami who has played for Italy on 77 caps, and flanker Mauro Bergamasco, who is in line to make his 80th international appearance on Saturday, O'Connell is well aware of the physical contests Mallett's men thrive on.
However, a snapped cruciate knee ligament has sidelined Italian captain Sergio Parisse for the entire RBS 6 Nations, leaving the Azzurri without one of their key players.
"The set piece is very strong for them, lineout and scrum.
"You really need to work hard and take them on there, and see what happens after that," 30-year-old O'Connell said.
"There's no doubt at the weekend it will be a big forward battle, and we need to perform there before the backs can do anything.
"Sergio Parisse is a great player and he's a loss for them but no one team is built around one man.
"They'll move on, same as we would if we had an injury to one of our top players.
"Certainly he's a great player and a big loss to them, but we've got to look beyond that and not be too worried about that.
"Italy are improving (every year). The longer they're in the competition, the better they get.
"Everyone knows up front is where their real strength is. Every year we always say it, it's probably our toughest game physically, the Italy game. It's going to be a very tough one to start with."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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