IRELAND’S PLAYERS ARE just like the rest of us.
So says fullback Rob Kearney.
Joe Schmidt’s side have been suffering from a dent in their confidence caused by a defeat at home to England in the opening round of the Six Nations, with the effects still felt two weekends ago as Ireland stuttered to a bonus-point win over Italy in Rome.
To manufacture wins over Scotland and the Italians despite not being at their best is of credit to Ireland, but they have cut frustrated figures even in victory.
Rob Kearney feels dips in confidence are part and parcel of life. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Ireland have clearly been carrying the wounds of that loss to the English, which has been difficult to understand for some.
Having won a Grand Slam last year, enjoyed a series success in Australia in the summer and beaten New Zealand as recently as November, Ireland’s dip in belief in recent weeks has shown that confidence is fickle, even at the highest level of professional rugby.
“Elite athletes are no different to any other punter in the world, someone watching on from the stand,” says Kearney. “It’s still a human person with the same thoughts, the same negative thoughts, the same positive thoughts. We’re all the same.
“You put a guy out on the field in front of 80,000 people and a few million people watching on television and you make a mistake, it will have that effect on anybody.
“And that’s where our training comes in, our confidence, a little bit of sports psychology and mindfulness, all the little things that we do in the background to give you that ability to park it, next moment, and keep looking forward.”
With that in mind, Sunday’s Six Nations clash with France in Dublin gives Kearney and co. their latest opportunity to deliver the performance – or even the single piece of play – that can send confidence flooding through them again.
“A team’s confidence can come back in one set-piece, three or four phases of play, where passing is really accurate, you find the holes or the gaps that you scouted during the week, people running onto the ball at pace, you score a try at the end of it, everyone is jumping in on top of each other, celebrating a try,” says the experienced 32-year-old.
Click Here: Bruno Fernandes jersey sale
“The great thing about a team lacking a little bit of confidence is that it just takes a small spark to get it back. That is what we will be hoping for early on at the weekend.”
Ireland have been short of their best in this Six Nations. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
The return of a handful of players from injury issues could also bring fresh energy into the Ireland squad this weekend, with CJ Stander, Jack Conan, Garry Ringrose, Jordan Larmour and Tadhg Beirne set to return to the selection mix.
Ireland will be without Robbie Henshaw and Dan Leavy against les Bleus, while Joey Carbery remains a doubt with his hamstring injury, but the reinforcements are timely.