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'We're coming to the end of our time in Croke Park and it will be a big motivation to finish on a high'
IRELAND lock Paul O'Connell says Declan Kidney's charges are fiercely determined to finish their time playing at Croke Park on a high.
The Irish rugby team have won eight, lost three and drawn one of their 12 games played to date at GAA headquarters. Last season's RBS Six Nations champions complete their time playing at Croke Park with Saturday's clash with Wales (2.30pm) and their final game of the series against Scotland seven days later.
O'Connell is set to win his 69th cap against the Welsh on Saturday while his second-row partner Donncha O'Callaghan is set to win his 60th.
Irish coach Declan Kidney has named the same side which defeated England at Twickenham at the end of last month for Saturday's clash with the Welsh.
Centre Brian O'Driscoll will emulate the achievement of Munster prop John Hayes when making his 100th appearance for his country this weekend against Wales.
Paul O'Connell said: "We're coming to the end of our time in Croke Park and it will be a big motivation to finish on a high there.
"We have two games left in the Six Nations, both at home, and we're hoping for a good run in. But it's going to be a tough challenge."
O'Connell admits that memories of Ireland's defeat to Wales at Croke Park in 2008 will add to the home team's motivation this weekend.
"Looking back at the English game I felt we were quite comfortable at times," O'Connell pointed out.
"It was good to score three tries in Twickenham. If we can score three tries again this weekend we know we'll be in a very good position."
Centre Brian O'Driscoll collects his 100th cap for Ireland in Saturday's game and admits his career has been invigorated by last season's Grand Slam triumph.
O'Driscoll will become the fourteenth player to join the ranks of rugby's centurions when he leads Ireland out for the 63rd time at Croke Park.
The 31-year-old spearheaded Ireland's march to the Grand Slam last season, the highlight of a 11-year Test career littered with headline moments.
O'Driscoll is refusing to consider retirement as long as he remains a force to be reckoned with.
"I'm really enjoying my rugby," said the Lions centre, who joins John Hayes as the second Irish player to win a century of international caps.
"Last year was fantastic - it makes things a lot easier when you win something that you've been trying to win for many years.
"That success makes you enjoy things more and you become more selfish.
"I do know there is an end line in sight so now it's about trying to attain as much as possible in that time.
"I love getting out on the pitch every day. Exercising for a living is pretty good."
Saturday's teams
Ireland: Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster) (capt), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster); Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Tomas O'Leary (Munster); Cian Healy (Leinster), Rory Best (Ulster), John Hayes (Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), David Wallace (Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: Sean Cronin (Connacht), Tony Buckley (Munster), Leo Cullen (Leinster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Rob Kearney (Leinster).
Wales: Lee Byrne; Leigh Halfpenny, James Hook, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones , Richie Rees; Paul James, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams (Capt), Gareth Delve.
Young Munster
YOUNG Munster are set to contest the ODM Munster Senior Cup final against UCC, the Clifford Park club has been informed.
Young Munster have been informed by the Munster Branch that as Cork Constitution failed to fulfil the semi-final fixture at the end of last month "they are deemed to have lost the match, therefore, Young Munster RFC have qualified for the final."
The semi-final meeting of Young Munster and Cork Con' had been due to go ahead on Saturday, February 27 at Musgrave Park. However, in a statement in the lead-up to the game, the Munster Branch stated: that as "a result of injuries and the unavailability of front row players and concern about health and safety and player welfare" Cork Constitution were unable to field a team and the game would not go ahead as scheduled.
However, the Munster Branch's subsequent decision to declare Young Munster as finalists will mean that the Clifford Park side will shortly have the opportunity to claim the ODM Munster Senior Cup for the first time in 20 years.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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