THERE’LL BE FIREWORKS WARNS TE’0
struggle with any period of readjustment to the demands Schmidt placed on his players.
The 28-year-old Munster skipper added: “Guys realised what a good environment he was trying to create and everyone wanted to be part of it.
“What keeps him relevant is the fact he is ahead of it, he’s always learning. There’s never a session where there’s not something to improve on – and if that’s the case, that keeps guys hungry. If you’re not interested you’re in the wrong place.”
O’mahony is also constantly striving to improve and has had a good year since he was catapulted into the line-up for the final Six Nations game against England last March at the expense of the injured Jamie Heaslip.
His performance earned him a place in the Lions squad and he ended up captaining the side in the first Test against the All Blacks.
But the Corkman recently admitted that he is only feeling back to his best now after the cruciate injury he suffered at the 2015 World Cup.
He said: “It took me a while to get back to where I wanted to be but over the last couple of months I’ve generally enjoyed myself. Then the last few weeks have just been enjoyable and that’s key for professional rugby, you have to enjoy what you are doing. A lot of us, if not all of us, certainly are in the last couple of weeks.
“There’s a great balance in what we have. There isn’t a guy here who doesn’t want to improve and add to the group. “At the same time, there are great characters and there’s good craic around the place. Young fellas are hanging around with some of the older fellas. There’s no cliques, no bulls***.”
LONDON Irish have made Les Kiss head coach with Declan Kidney appointed as his technical director. BEN TE’O has promised “fireworks” when England and France collide in what Eddie Jones has billed as a “test of manhood”.
With the back-to-back champions needing a win to keep their hat-trick bid alive, former Leinster star Te’o (above left) has been recalled to deliver Jones’ demand for a “brutal” Red Rose display.
“There’s a lot of history to the game,” said the Lions centre, who had played down historical relevance ahead of England’s Murrayfield misadventure.
“We’re two physical teams across the water from each other, so obviously there are going to be fireworks.
“There’s a fierce rivalry and there have been plenty of great games. I’m sure the fans can’t wait to see how it will play out.” Jones expects a response to defeat last time out and says that Te’o will set the tone by “getting an early shot” on opposite number Mathieu Bastareaud (above right).
“He’s a bit of an icon player for them,” Jones said. “He’s been built up as the guy who’s going to regenerate French rugby.
“So it’s important that, early in the game, we let him know he’s going to have a tough day in the office.
“We have to be brutal against the French. You know every time you play against them it is a test of your manhood.”
England, five points behind Ireland whom they play next weekend, know anything less than maximum points could end their title challenge today – and they have never scored four tries on a Six Nations visit to Paris.
France v England, today 4.45pm