Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ACES IN TH
The greatest of them Paul admits he’s excited by today’s
PAUL O’CONNELL has played in some world class Ireland packs but he’s really excited about the current one.
The Munster great won a Grand Slam under Joe Schmidt, who developed a number of formidable forward units in his time.
Now, as Andy Farrell’s forwards coach, the 42-year-old is enthused by what he has seen ahead of Saturday’s All Blacks clash.
Farrell selected a mobile, powerful pack for the Japan game that delivered an outstanding performance in the 60-5 triumph.
The acid test of their credentials will come this weekend but O’connell is hugely encouraged.
“The potential in the forward group that we have is incredible,” he said. “There are a few players that didn’t make the squad that have been playing great as well.
“You want competition for places, you want guys knowing that, ‘When I come in I have to train and play well if I want to keep my place’.
“You want guys just below them saying, ‘I have to train the house down because when I get my crack I have to perform’. That’s great for any forward. The emergence of a few young players, older players looking after their bodies and staying in shape to allow them to keep playing is great for us.
“It’s an exciting time. As a forwards coach it’s hard to pick a starting pack, you’ve very competitive training sessions.
“Very often, it’s the work you do away from us is what will get you picked but you want them in here competing with each other, seeing what the standard is and knowing what they have to do so they get picked.
“It’s a dynamic pack, big guys but they also handle the ball incredibly well. They’re quick to get off the floor, it’s an exciting group to coach and be involved in.” Against Japan Farrell and O’connell went for Ronan Kelleher – a late call-up to the Lions in the summer – and Leinster newcomer Dan Sheehan (below), who has the physique to become a major player at Test level.
The reliable Rob Herring missed out while Dave Heffernan didn’t make the squad.
O’connell praised both Ulster star Herring and Connacht’s Heffernan but added: “The players emerging, it’s only going to be good for us.
“The guys know now that you have to be super fit, you have to be able to deliver and also be smart. Hooker is one of those
positions. Dan has emerged, he’s a big guy, he’s fast, he’s dynamic, he’s not cocky. He’d scored nine tries in five starts and off the bench for Leinster.
“Those guys are in a really competitive position where they’re all going to be good for each other and make each other better.”
O’connell joined the Ireland backroom team in January and made an instant impact.
He recalls the set-up being too set-piece focused when he arrived on the scene – now, as a major coaching influence, he feels the key is to get that crucial work done quickly to keep players fresh.
“You need to be pretty clear in what you want them to do and keep delivering that,” he stated. “We change little bits but players can’t keep hearing different messages. They need to have the same messages said in the right way.
“You get so little time to package it so they need to pick it up really quickly. The big thing is the time challenge. Club coaching is tough, there’s so many games. International rugby, there isn’t enough.
“You’d love something in the middle to allow you to look around and see if there’s anything to copy, paste and edit as we do.”