Fans should keep the faith

Declan Colley

There we are, reflecting on a game won against possibly the strongest team Italy have ever fielded in the Six Nations and the fickle public is already writing off our chances of a grand slam; chances so highly touted a short time beforehand.

The diminutive Irish scrum-half is well aware of the fickle nature of the sporting public, but just because they have written off Ireland's hopes of Six Nations, or even Triple Crown glory, after just one game, doesn't mean the players feel the same way.

"Of course we listen to what people say," he admits, "but when we're here in camp as a team we're isolated, we're in our own little bubble. In fairness to Eddie (O'Sullivan), he brings us back down to earth fairly quickly after a game whatever the outcome. We knew Italy was going to be tough, but sometimes people take things for granted."

He points to the fact that when the schedule pitted Ireland at home to England and France and away to the so-called 'lessers' in Scotland, Wales and Italy, there was a widespread sense of anticipation that this was finally going to be Ireland's year. But the players are not getting carried away.

"We always knew going to Scotland would be tough because you only have to look at the record to see how many times they've beaten us there.

"But the perception of the series has changed since Wales beat England, Scotland so nearly beat France and Italy nearly mugged us in Rome. The thing is, though, that we knew things would not stand still since the autumn internationals and we knew teams would improve.

"It's obvious the Scots have worked on their defence and it has improved dramatically, as they showed against France. The French managed to hold onto the ball

during many phases of that game last week, but they were not going anywhere and that was very rare against them."

And it is not just the Scots that improved, as Wales proved at home to England.

The Irish number nine ponders the suggestion that France and England may have come back to the standard of the 'lessers', more than Ireland, Wales Italy and Scotland raising their game to a higher level.

"I think Ireland have certainly stepped it up a level and whether France and England are at the level they were six months ago is open to question. We certainly have not seen either side at their best, but that has opened things up and has made it a more entertaining competition.

"As a result we are fully aware it is there for us, if we believe we want it enough and, if we go out there with the mind set that we know we can play good rugby, then we have every confidence we can do it. Eddie brings that to us too instilling in us that we are good enough to do it if we believe we can."

The other side of that argument, of course, is that this weekend's opponents have belief as well, a renewed belief, which so nearly carried them through against France.

"The Scots appear to be playing more as a team right now. Maybe it is that their forwards were their stars before now, but their backs particularly their unity in defence have improved an awful lot and that's been very noticeable." Although he never worked with the Scottish coaching duo of Matt Williams and Willie Anderson, Stringer admits he has a lot of respect for their abilities, particularly having seen the way they appear to have turned around their team since the disastrous autumn campaign.

"We never underestimated the quality the Scots have in their team," he says, "but the result against France showed how dangerous they can be and that's what we have to take on board. They'll change their playing patterns depending on who they're up against and we have to be prepared for that."

From a personal point of view, Stringer knows he's going to have to cope with his opposite number, Chris Cussiter, whose man-of-the-match performance against France, has already led to talk of a Lions place this summer.

"Yeah, I thought he did well. He's an aggressive guy who likes to get involved and he looks like a real threat. He certainly threatened the French a lot and from that point of view we've got to watch him and the forwards are already aware, having seen him last week, how dangerous he can be from ruck and maul.

Peter Stringer and the Irish team are taking nothing for granted especially at Murrayfield and, in the knowledge they did not do themselves justice in Rome, are anxious to restore confidence.

That they will have to do without Brian O'Driscoll and against a side who will probably be even more physical than the robust Italians.

The public perception of the Irish team's ability may have been dented in Rome, but Stringer and company are determined to set the record straight.

"We're only going there for one thing to win."