Sandwiched between the other two games, Saturday's grand finale to the 2015 Six Nations looks particularly complicated for Ireland. Not alone have they to be mindful of what happens before them when Wales go to the Stadio Olimpico but, regardless, for Ireland to retain the title they will then be left dependent to at least some degree on the competitiveness of France in the final game at Twickenham.
Of course, none of this comes into the equation until, first and foremost Ireland beat Scotland in Murrayfield, something they were unable to do two years ago. Like the true professional he is, Eoin Reddan stressed that has to their focus for the week.
“The way to win the title is probably not to think about the title, if you know what I mean,” said Reddan. “That’s why we give you what we give you in terms of wanting to win the game first. Because if you take your eye off that for a second there’s no championship, there’s no win . . . And I think treating Scotland as you would if there wasn’t a championship on the line is the key. We have the responsibility of letting people dream and think big. But our own responsibility is to think about the small little things and think all the way to the end.”
Wales, Ireland and England go into Saturday’s staggered kick-offs against Italy, Scotland and France on six points with points differentials of +12, +33 and +37 respectively. Even if Ireland stay ahead of Wales in the table they are then dependent on France beating England or restricting England’s winning margin if Ireland win by more than four.
“I suppose ideally, you wouldn’t be relying on anyone else but in this case we probably are,” said Reddan, who watched their win over Italy in Rome on Sunday. “Even walking off the pitch I was trying to see what kind of mood they were in but they seemed pretty happy and I think that’s what you want. If they’re happy and maybe they’ve turned a corner in terms of the media being on their back and that sense of us against the rest of the world, maybe we might get a good [French] performance.”
More direct
Reddan echoed Simon Easterby’s view that the Scots are much changed, much improved and “more direct” under
Vern Cotter
, with the defeat to Italy falsifying impressions of them,
Reddan took particular encouragement from the way Ireland rallied from deficits of 12-0 and 20-9 to be hammering away on the Welsh line at the end as a signal that their morale will withstand the disappointment of seeing their ten-game winning streak end.
“When we have a look at Scotland and what we’re up against, there’s enough there straight away to snap you out of it. They’ve been very dangerous and maybe more dangerous because I suppose outside of our group they’re probably underestimated.”
“The loss against Italy probably changes people’s impressions about what they’ve produced since Vern Cotter took over. But they’re a much tougher team. They run very, very direct and have lots of big finishers. There’s enough there to snap you into the reality that if you’re a bit off at the weekend then we’re going to be way off.”
