Niall nails message for Ireland

YOU must play for the full 80 minutes.

That will be the message from Niall O’Donovan when the Ireland squad next meets up. One of rugby’s finest forward coaches and assistant to Eddie O’Sullivan, O’Donovan believes they have lost out in too many matches over the past couple of seasons by starting games badly and finishing one or two in similar fashion, not least the heartbreaker against France at Croke Park.

The popular view that Ireland’s impressive Six Nations campaign entitles them to be regarded as one of the favourites for the Webb Ellis trophy sits nicely with O’Donovan, who is a great believer in player self-confidence. But to suggest he is satisfied with progress to date would be seriously wide of the mark “These guys are setting high standards for themselves in every facet so they were disappointed at not winning the Six Nations,” he accepts.