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Wood: 'You can't take anything for granted'
FORMER Irish rugby captain Keith Wood believes Declan Kidney's side have a 'good chance' of completing back-to-back Grand Slam successes in the coming months.
Wood said one of the big challenges facing Ireland in the RBS Six Nations championship would be to keep expectation levels realistic so there was 'confidence, but not over-confidence.'
Ireland open their RBS Six Nations campaign against Italy at Croke Park this Saturday (2.30pm).
The Irish line-up for the game includes the fit-again Jerry Flannery, who will win his 35th cap at hooker.
There was disappointment for Keith Earls when the team was announced yesterday. Ulster's Andrew Trimble has been named on the left wing ahead of the Limerick star.
Elsewhere, Ronan O'Gara gets the nod to start at out-half with Leinster's Jonathan Sexton sidelined with injury. O'Gara will be partnered at half-back by Munster team-mate Tomas O'Leary.
Cappamore prop John Hayes is set to win his 98th cap against Nick Mallett's Italian side and should he remain injury free the 36-year-old will complete a century of appearances against England at the end of the month.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's opener with Italy Keith Wood said Ireland had a huge hunger to repeat their Grand Slam-winning exploits of last March, but how the side reacted to the change of circumstances would determine whether Declan Kidney's side were able to pull it off.
"There is plenty of evidence from recent history to remind you that you can't take anything for granted.
"Remember Wales winning the Grand Slam in 2005 and then struggling badly in 2006. It happens," Keith Wood pointed out.
"One of the biggest challenges Ireland will have is to try to keep the expectation level realistic, so you have confidence, but not over-confidence.
"But with Declan Kidney in charge there is little danger of the players getting complacent. He managed it unbelievably well last year in terms of taking it one game at a time. It is maybe a psyche that fits more comfortably with Ireland. We have never been great ones for shouting from the rooftops and probably the less said the better in this instance. The Irish are in a pretty good place. They have a very strong group, they know how they want to play and it is pretty clear they are going to be formidable again.
"At times in the autumn, against Australia and especially against South Africa, the Irish showed they are arguably a better team than when they won the Slam last year. But remember that Ireland still rode their luck in last year's Six Nations, especially against England and the decider in Wales. So, that is another way of keeping expectations in check."
Wood believes Ireland's away date with France in Paris on Saturday, February 13 is likely to be their key fixture in the series.
"I know Ireland will say every game is a big obstacle in their campaign, but the biggest one is probably France away in Paris in the second round," Keith Wood explained in his column on the BBC website.
"I think they just need to have the confidence to stay in the game. Beating France is not simple, but there is a formula to it.
"If you are in the game at half-time you have a very good chance. Ireland have the ability to score and to still be going at the end, which they wouldn't have had in the past. But now they have the fitness, the experience of winning big games and a strong leadership group which means they can deliver on that sort of stage."
Ireland v Italy: Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (Capt), Gordon D'Arcy, Andrew Trimble; Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary; Cian Healy, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes; Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell; Kevin McLaughlin, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Rory Best, Tom Court, Leo Cullen, Sean O'Brien, Eoin Reddan, Paddy Wallace and Keith Earls.
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