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Ireland 'frothing at the mouth' to play Scotland at World Cup
By PA
Prop Dave Kilcoyne believes Ireland’s players are “frothing at the mouth” to face Scotland and insists there is no sense of self-satisfaction following a euphoric win over South Africa.
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Andy Farrell’s men underlined their status as Test rugby’s top-ranked nation by defeating the reigning champions 13-8 last weekend in Paris.
But progression to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals is not yet assured moving towards next Saturday’s return to Stade de France for a pivotal showdown with the Scots.
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Munster loosehead Kilcoyne believes a memorable evening against the Springboks was “parked” during some well-earned time off as attention quickly shifted to the team’s final Pool B fixture.
“Lads went away and spent a bit of downtime and were itching to get back in, bouncing, and it’s all eyes on Scotland now,” he said.
“That game is parked, we’ve a couple of massive learnings from it and we definitely won’t be falling in love with ourselves.
“Paulie (forwards coach Paul O’Connell) had a few tips for us in areas we were deficient in and we were out there (in training) making sure we had them right for Scotland.
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“In a competition like this you’ve got to keep learning with every game and you’ve got to keep getting better.
“Next week poses a massive challenge to us again so we’ve got to prepare as best we can for that.
“Everyone’s frothing at the mouth to be involved.”
Kilcoyne is enjoying his second World Cup, having overcome the scare of suffering a hamstring tear during last month’s training camp in Portugal.
The 34-year-old remained in the French capital with other members of the squad to enjoy a couple of days off after the South Africa match before travelling back to camp in Tours ahead of schedule.
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Kilcoyne feels the current Ireland setup is the best he has been involved in and praised the impact of head coach Andy Farrell.
“I’m loving it over here, you read people writing about the incredible environment Faz (Farrell) has created for the players,” said Kilcoyne.
“And I don’t say it for the sake of saying it, but I think his emotional intelligence is through the roof.
“You look at that South Africa game, such a big occasion physically and mentally fatiguing and to have the foresight to give the lads two days’ break, he probably knew how mentally and physically fatiguing that game was going to be for the whole country.
“I’m not going to be saying about other coaching environments but this is definitely the best Ireland environment I’ve ever been involved in since I’ve been playing, 100 per cent.
“When there’s great camaraderie in the squad, you love being around it.”
Stephen Donald does have a point Where does the Irish game go if they fail to win forward dominance
Looking at it through my All Black rose tinted glasses, if you’re the All Blacks, you’re sitting back and watching that, you disrupt the Irish set-piece and therefore you win that first contact and that first phase, I don’t know what Ireland’s got to go to.
“You watch that first half where a South African lineout absolutely destroyed the Irish, they couldn’t get any of their game going.
“The Irish got one lineout, one five-man lineout going, and all of a sudden they got within an inch of scoring.
“It’s a done deal that they’re probably the best phase play attack in all of rugby. When they get going and humming they’re phase play is brilliant.
“However, if you can stifle them at the set-piece and stifle them at that first ruck which goes hand in hand, there’s not a whole lot they go to.
“Yes Bundee Aki was brilliant in the midfield – I can’t believe that Bundee Aki will have that sort of freedom against anyone else
NZ knows Aki's game - Farrell will have an eye on NZs propelled progress its coming from all directions
Expect Ireland to be fully grounded and to be pumped by the prospect of a very dangerous Scotland team approaching the match 'All guns blazing'.
It's time to consolidate the standard from the SA match and notch it up. Qualification was always going to depend on beating Scotland. The SA match was just to decide Ireland's qualification position IF they were beat Scotland.
I understand Townsend is trying to imply Ireland are being disrespectful to pump his own players. In truth Ireland won't be distracted by anything outside the immediate task of beating Scotland and qualifying for the Quarters with momentum if that's available.