We’ve shown we can beat the best in the All Blacks ... now for the Six Nations
ROB KEARNEY EXCLUSIVE
ROB KEARNEY predicts France and Ireland will fight it out for Six Nations glory in the coming weeks.
Kearney, Ireland’s most decorated player, will call the championship as a TV pundit for the first time after spending his six months as a player in Australia with Western Force.
The former Leinster fullback feels that Andy Farrell’s side caught people by surprise by completing an Autumn series clean sweep in such style – out-playing the All Blacks in the process.
“It was a superb November and they probably caught a lot of us off-guard a little bit,” said Kearney.
“Against New Zealand it was as complete a performance as we’ve seen from an Irish team in a number of years.
“They just looked so comfortable keeping the ball in hand for a consistent amount of phases – and when they didn’t have the ball, their primary objective was just to go back and get it as quickly as possible, there was real aggression in the line speed.
“The system defensively caused them a little bit of trouble in the Six Nations over the last couple of years. But they’ve made huge strides in that now and they’ll be going into this competition with a huge amount of confidence.
“The French are rightfully favourites for the competition. We’re going away to Paris, to a packed out Stade de France which is always another layer to the difficulty of winning over there.
“At the same time, if they’re playing as good rugby as they have done, there’s no reason why
Ireland shouldn’t be going there with a huge amount of confidence.” Kearney is concerned that, on the eve of the championship, his former team-mate Johnny Sexton is still not being pushed for the No. 10 jersey, although Joey Carbery is back from injury and Jack Carty has played well in Europe for
Connacht and they will get their chance.
But Kearney does see evolution in Ireland’s transition to a more dangerous attacking force and he predicts the men in green will take care of business against
reigning champs Wales in the tournament opener next Saturday.
At the same stage last year, Ireland were favourites to win in Cardiff but Peter O’Mahony was sent off and the hosts held out for a win that ultimately propelled them to title success.
“Now, Wales have surprised us a huge amount over the last number of years but I’d be surprised to see them up around the top table again,” Kearney said.
“I’d expect a relatively comfortable win for Ireland and that first game is always really important because it can just springboard your confidence into the rest of the tournament.
“If it goes wrong, you can be under pressure very quickly. It’s a really good opener for Ireland to have, particularly at home.
“You can see the difference a full Aviva made to the team against New Zealand in November.”