The Ireland squad trained at UCD on Tuesday. On behalf of IrishRugby.ie, journalist Coilin Duffy caught up with Denis Leamy and Paul O’Connell at the team hotel in Killiney as the squad prepared to disperse, ahead of the weekend’s Magners League matches.
DENIS LEAMY…
ON THE WIN OVER SCOTLAND:
“It was nice to get a few tries on the board. Overall, there’s always going be mistakes made and you’re always going to want to improve on little things – no matter how well you played.
“I think the win was important and it leaves us in a good place coming up to the Welsh game, which is going to be a really good game hopefully.”
ON THE DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE SCOTS:
“We put hours of work into it during the week. Sometimes you go out and you’re just blown out of the water and there’s defensive mistakes possibly like in the first half in Paris, which for some reason happen.
“It was nice to go out and put in a good, solid vocal performance in defence.”
ON WALES’ FAST-PACED ATTACK:
“Wales look to run the ball from anywhere. Especially quick tap penalties – Dwayne Peel will get on the ball very fast and just go from anywhere and try to use the pace within their side.
“It’s going to make for a very open, fast game I’d imagine. It will be fairly hectic for both teams. I suppose the team with the better fitness will probably have the best chance in a game like that.”
ON WELSH COACH WARREN GATLAND:
“I think Warren Gatland is a very good coach. He’s a very good record everyhere he’s been really. I think he’s brought a new impetus into this Welsh side.
“Certainly, they’ve got the players. You can see that when we play them week in, week out in the Magners League. The quality of player is definitely there.
“It’s just a matter of gelling them and getting the best out of them and he seems to be doing that at the moment.”
PAUL O’CONNELL…
ON COMING ON AS A REPLACEMENT AGAINST SCOTLAND:
“It was nice to come on, nice to get a run back in the team and play an international game (after being injured). I didn’t think it was going to happen three or four weeks ago, so it was great. A brilliant experience.
“I had no doubts about it (the back injury). It was just the time-frame that was worrying me of how long it was going to take.
“It was just a small little thing that kept flaring up. Once we got it under control about two or three weeks ago, it felt great.”
ON HOW HE DEALT WITH BEING OUT INJURED:
“I had a few injuries and there’s no point complaining. You try and relax and enjoy the weekends off and being able to watch the games and not be under as much pressure as you are when you’re playing them.
“Some weekends it got very frustrating. The Heineken Cup weekends and things like that but that’s part of it.
ON GETTING BACK TO THE PACE OF TEST RUGBY:
“It was hard enough. I came off the bench (for Munster) last week against Edinburgh so I was kind of used to it somewhat.
“After about five or six minutes (against Scotland) I found I was struggling badly, but after ten or twelve minutes then I felt great. When it finished I didn’t want it to finish really because I was just getting into it.
ON HIS FITNESS FOR THE GAME AGAINST WALES:
“I think I’ll be grand. There’s a lot of selection issues before the Welsh game. Micko’s been playing well, Mal is still there.
“Hopefully I’ll look at trying to play for Munster against Cardiff this weekend. I’ll go home and see if Deccie (Declan Kidney) will give me a game! Then next week is another week and we’ll see what happens.
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING MORE GAME-TIME:
“If I’m involved in the squad for the Welsh game, getting a game this weekend is important. It’s all about match fitness – you can do as much as you like on the training pitch but it’s all about match fitness, whether you’re starting or coming off the bench.
“My back feels great now so it’s all about getting the fitness and match sharpness back.”
To listen to the thoughts of Leamy and O’Connell on the win over Scotland, Ireland’s next outing against Wales and other topics, please click here.
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